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 Monday, 5/27, discusses the challenge of letting ourselves believe that joy can exist in our lives. The author talks about the experience of having so many disappointments, that we dont want to be let down anymore. We can shut down our hearts and minds so that we no longer expect to be happy. The author says we should allow every bit of joy life has to offer.
Reminder: I will not let fear of disappointment prevent me from enjoying this day. I have a great capacity for happiness.
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Im afraid I am guilty of being shut down for many years of my life. I couldnt bear any more let down or disappointment. I became accustomed to feeling miserable and seeing my cup as always half empty. I was a victim and a doormat and that was just my lot in life.
Well, lots of things have changed, especially my attitude. I no longer believe I deserve to be miserable, and I have learned to find joy in a multitude of things. I now think that I would rather be happy for an hour or a day, than ruining every waking moment out of fear. Alanon has taught me a much better, happier, and healthier way to live.
Great reminder LYne Joyis available in each and every day, all I simply need to do is to take off my doom an d gloom glasses and see the beauty. Thanks to the tools of alanon has given, I can be in the moment, see the beauty of a flower or bird, recite a slogan or the serenity prayer Being in he present moment allows me to be present each day Thank for your service
Thank you Lyne for your service.
I really like this daily. Mostly b/c I am capable of little small joys in my day... feeding the birds, walking through nature, feeling the sand at the beach between my toes. All simple joys. But I have a problem with keeping my Joy. And I think it is b/c I have lived for so long with the "Doom & Gloom" spectacles that Betty talks about. I was so busy seeing my glass (life) as half empty, that I couldn't hold onto the fact that perhaps it was really half-full... on its way to fullness!
I really see this now, as not living in the moment. Because we speak of "One Day at a Time," we begin to find more ways to live in just this moment. I find THAT is what is allowing me to see more Joy in my life, and to also hold onto the Joy.
I attended a service for our fallen American warriors today. I actually found peace in telling them all my private "thank you" for my liberties!!
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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
Thank you Lyne for your service and the daily. Thank you all for your shares and ESH. I also like this reading as it really drives home for me that I have choices. I can choose to view life as half empty or half full. I can choose to view 'life events' as mountains or molehills. I can choose to be grateful or want more. I can choose to focus on me or beyond me. The simple act of prayer and meditation in the morning helps me to remember that I choose gratitude and joy, one day at a time and I'm willing today to do anything to keep my focus on gratitude and joy. My heart is much more content to be present in what is than to pin for what isn't or what wasn't.
Happy Monday all and happy Memorial Day. I too attended a service and also privately stated my thank yous for all we have! We are free in this country because of this who have fallen and those who continue to fight for our liberties. (((Hugs))) to all - make it a great day!
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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
This share reminds me why it's so important for me to keep a gratitude journal. When I keep one regularly, I get to be reminded that there are things to be happy about every single day. Even if it's as simple as a bird singing.
I take the gratitude a little further and also keep an on-going "win list" where I write down and recognize my good deeds and achievements. It may sound self-indulgent, but coming from someone whose perfectionist mind likes to take her to the back room and beat her up on a regular basis, the "win list" is an uplifting tool where I get to remind myself that I am a good person and feel some gratitude for that, as well.
