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.
Today's author shares that they read somewhere that the things that are urgent are rarely important and the things that are important are rarely urgent. Our author can get so caught up in nagging, trivial matters of day-to-day life, that they forget to spend time on more important pursuits. The slogan "First things first" helps the author to prioritize what they are doing. Today, the author's serenity is the most important thing. Their serenity depends on their relationship with their HP, and so this relationship is the first priority.
Today's Reminder: As I think about what to do with this day, I will set some time aside for what is really important. I will put first things first today.
Today's Quote: "Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature, and not be thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito's wing that falls on the rails." Henry David Thoreau
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First things first. This is one of my favorite slogans. It helps me to keep things in perspective. I have always had relatively high energy, and have been able to accomplish a lot with my day, as long as I get started early. Living with the disease of alcoholism really ran me ragged. I wasn't finding enough time to rest, to take care of myself, to spend with others. I was simply running from one crisis to another, trying to carry on as though I could "do it all" in addition to living with the disease. First things first helped me to define what was important to me and make time to care for those things each day. Now, first things first helps me remember to set aside time to spend with friends or to work on larger projects at home and at work. I can get muddled down in the minor details, accomplishing a lot of minor tasks, but Balancing that with accomplishing major projects requires me to let the smaller tasks wait and accumulate while I work on the larger ones. Thankfully, the smaller tasks will still be there for me when I've finished working on the larger projects. Remembering to do things that feed my soul, that help me stay connected with my HP, that challenge me in a good way, that build my community tells me that I am doing first things first. I can be my best self and deal with my life in a way that is in accordance with my beliefs and values when I remember to take care of myself first.
I'm happy to report that the snow stopped (at least for a day) and the temperatures have dropped to mid-winter weather. This weekend, I'll put first things first by going out a purchasing a few sweaters! I hope you make today a great day.
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Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Good Morning Skorpi Love this simple reminder. Since entering program i prepare a "to do list" each morning and enjoy crossing items off as i accomplish each task. " First things first" remains my companion as i travel though my day. If I miss a chore i simply add it to he list and move forward. At the end of the day i feel as if i had a successful day and used my time wisely.
ThANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE
Thank you Skorpi for your service, and Betty for your share!
This was poignant for me: "Living with the disease of alcoholism really ran me ragged. I wasn't finding enough time to rest, to take care of myself, to spend with others. I was simply running from one crisis to another, trying to carry on as though I could "do it all" in addition to living with the disease."
It took me a long while to accept that I couldn't "do it all." I could not "do" life (my life as it was) perfectly. While I was in that madness, Al-Anon helped me to use "First Things First." I began to make lists to help me stay focused... like Betty, I enjoyed seeing my list slowly getting crossed off as I moved through my day. To be honest, now I believe it was a way for me to have some control in my life. LOL!
Have fun picking out some sweaters, Skorpi!
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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
A day late to this yet feeling compelled to share any ways! First Things First helps me daily as it reminds me that recovery must be number one on my daily to-do list. No matter where I am, who I'm with, what's going on, my day just flows so much better when I stick with what's suggested as a morning routine - prayer, meditation, literature, self-care.
I am not sure what's going on with me, but my sleep pattern has been shifting. I've been retired for 17 years, having no formal alarm since then, and actually long before that. I am a creature of habit with sleep - difficult to settle, light sleeper, wake early, grateful if I get 5-6 hours a night...
Well - for the last few weeks, I have actually slept longer....and I am grateful as I know I am a better person with better rest! For someone who is almost always up before the sun, it is almost jarring to wake up with daylight, and I must say that it's been an adjustment mentally for me. I am laughing at myself most days because just an extra hour/so of sleep, and waking with daylight had me panic a couple days - thinking (insanely) that I was late....for what? I don't know!
So - more learning and growing and back to the basics - no matter where I am, what time it is, when I do First Things First, my days flow better! (((Hugs))) to all!
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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 Skorpi for this daily...."first things first" I've been tested with that of late and so far, not too bad job on my part.....also I add "how important is it???" in that whats really a priority here?? whats the most important thing to me??? Connecting to my deepest CORE self and my Higher Power....do that and i am not velcro to every stupid, nickel dime irritant that comes at me...i can step aside...cast it off and take care of what IS important
Remembering to do things that feed my soul, that help me stay connected with my HP, that challenge me in a good way, that build my community tells me that I am doing first things first. I can be my best self and deal with my life in a way that is in accordance with my beliefs and values when I remember to take care of myself first. 
