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.
Todays reading is about the power in the slogan keep it simple. The writer describes worrying over whether or not she should contact a cousin whose mother is dying. She is paralyzed by the idea that she has always felt such shame in being the daughter of an alcoholic. She also does not want to continue the legacy of broken family connections due to alcoholism. She decides to write the letter without giving any energy to whether or not she will receive a response or what the outcome will be. The writer decides the message in keep it simple is for her and mails the card without holding on to shame of feelings of failure in her family.
I have had a lot of internal arguments like this one! It seems I can talk myself in or out of something very skillfully if I ruminate about I for enough hours! I appreciate the message on the page today, and especially the quotation from Alateen which states:
If we live each day to the best of our ability, we will soon find we dont have time to worry about the future or regret the past. We will be too busy enjoying life.
this will be my focus today- I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday!
Good Morning Mary Love this powerful slogan. I never knew ho to"keep it simple" until I EMBRACED the principles of alanon." deetachment, let go and let god " ODAT, do not project "all helped me grow in this meaningful process.
Thanks for your service
Good morning all and Happy Sunday! Thank you Mary for your service and the daily. Thank you and Betty for your shares and ESH. I am not entirely certain where it came from, but I had a continuous pattern of making most things much more difficult than necessary. My magical magnifying brain could certainly turn an ant hill into a mountain, and before recovery, both where disastrous!
Today, with this slogan and many other tools, I have a different outlook and approach to living. When/if my mind begins to overthink, project, over-analyze, etc. I practice pausing so I can check the facts, my motives, my fears and redirect to simplifying what is vs. what I think, project, etc. I am grateful for the gift of faith and hope which helps me see that the past is the past and can't be changed. The future is unknown and not yet present and just for today, I can keep it simple and take action that matters for the here/now. I appreciate the ease of use of our slogans when we just surrender and focus on self.
I am off to a meeting shortly and we have mushy, mushy surfaces due to tons of rain. I am hopeful to just enjoy the day and get some chores done around here! Enjoy your day and keep it simple!!!
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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
Thank you Mary, for your service. I so love seeing your Avatar each Sunday!!
I guess I had a tough time with Keep It Simple. My mind would constantly analyze, bringing up all the self-negativity and then I would begin to see how I could control and manipulate the situation to my liking. How exhausting!
First I gave up the Control. Then I learned to Practice the Pause - very good for me, as it keeps me from reacting with Fear. Lastly - and sadly the hardest to get rid of - is the negative talk, and self-doubt.
Then I was able to understand how to simplify things in my life! I must admit, I did try and jump in head first to 'Keep it Simple,' but it wasn't authentic... so it was hard to keep viable in my life. Today, it is a little bit easier for me to 'Keep it Simple.'
I really love the quote from Ala-Teen - as I have many regrets about the past , and tend to allow my Fear to project for the future - it can remind me to stay IN. THIS. MOMENT.
Rained all night, so the soil is nice and soft for the plants I bought yesterday!! I am going to commune with the soil and Nature. Enjoy your Sunday!
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"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
I've always had trouble keeping things simple. If it could be overthought, overwrought, hashed, rehashed, assembled, disassembled and put to everyone's opinion, then and only then would I be satisfied. I wondered why I was always exhausted as well! Even though I need to remind myself to stop, slow down, pause and think.....think to keep it as simple as possible.....then I am more at peace and don't feel totally wrung out. I actually say the words aloud now......how can I keep this as simple as possible without causing needless turmoil? Thank you the reminder again with this reading.
Happy Sunday....the afternoon is almost over now. I actually was able to open the windows and let in fresh, cleansing air. Love it!
