The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
The reading for May 17 is about living one day at a time. It reminds us of the saying, "When we talk of tomorrow, the gods laugh." They laugh because the future is not predictable.
We can make plans, but we cannot determine future results. Circumstances change, and we change too. We can also take hours, minutes, seconds one at a time. The author says that by focusing only on the present moment, they know they are fine.
Reminder: My worst fears about tomorrow need not affect this day. By letting them go, I am free to grow. Today I can change a bad habit, face a fear, acknowledge a joy, or celebrate a good fortune. All I have is today. Let me make today the most fully alive day I have ever experienced.
------------------------------------------------
One Day At A Time has been probably the most life-saving of the slogans for me. I used it in my darkest hours, and it helped me hold on to sanity. I try to use it whenever my mind starts charging into the future at breakneck speed, which can happen whenever I don't keep it occupied with more productive tasks. To show my gratitude for this slogan, I changed my avatar today.
Hello Freetime I agree living oDAT is a sound principle to embrace. Since entering program, many yeas ago i have used this principlee to guide my life. . it is so true that yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery and today is a gift Thanks for your service .
Good morning MIP! Thank you Freetime for your service and the daily. Thanks to all above for your shares and ESH. I agree - Living One Day at a Time is a gift of recovery. I was a huge planner most of my life, which isn't bad. The issue is when the results were not as expected, I took it all personally and overreacted time and time again. This type of thinking was a huge barrier for me to a peaceful heart, mind and soul.
There is still an unsettled element of my being that can panic at times when 'life' happens. There is now though a power greater than myself that gently reminds me I am not alone and all will be OK! I am grateful that I have been able to trust a power greater than self to restore me to sanity and keep me close to it One Day at a Time.
Happy Friday all - off to the golf course and then golfing this evening with a sponsee! We are to have storms this weekend, so happy to be getting out and about today before then. Enjoy your day all!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
It seems that I need this today. I read Iamhere's first paragraph, and I thought, "Wow! She is me!" LOL! I have realized that I have coped with a lot of sadness and disappointment because I needed for those future plans to work, and when they didn't I internalized it!
Al-Anon is helping me live to live in the Present. Not always easy for me to do, but I catch myself now saying, "Thank you HP for this moment!"
Today I am using ODAT b/c my dad goes in for another test today to ascertain whether or not they can perform surgery on his blocked carotid artery. I have had a difficult time Letting Go of this diagnosis, procedure and outcome, as my father is my Rock of Gibraltar. I keep reminding myself that this is HIS body, so HIS decisions. Thanks to Al-Anon I am FULLY AWARE that my need to "take over" my father's medical plan is my FEAR raising it's ugly head. I am fearful of losing him, so I feel those controlling thoughts pop into my head.
I also remind myself that my HP will help me handle & accept what happens next! Each time I have a panicked thought about this, I think of being cradled by HP's loving hands... it is helping quell the crazies right now.
It's Finally Friday everyone! Make your's the best it can be!!
__________________
"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Thank you FT for your service. This is one of my favorite and important slogans that help me live day to day, ODAT. I used to get stuck in the past and worry about the future to the point of anxiety. I didn't know how to enjoy the day I had until alanon. Living ODAT allows me to find life manageable. And that gives me peace of mind. All good, Lyne
Thank you Freetime for your service and all who shared.
Prayers PnP, for your dad!
I too would get very indignant over plans that didn't work out the way I PLANNED them. I put in so much work, how could they possibly turn out a different way?! Weren't we taught that hard work would get us to our goals? Yup, HP is having a chuckle and will have the final say. One Day At A Time, or One Moment At A Time....funny how a simple saying can ground one again. I needed this reminder.
Lately i have been struggling one minute at a time! I am so tired that I am having trouble writing this. The slogan has helped me many times in the past. I know God is in control & I learn new things with patience. I will do today some things that I haven't in the past. I am still a work in progress!
Freetime...
...