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.
In today's reading from Courage to Change, the author asks: how many days of my life have I wasted? The author reflects on missed opportunities from years past including the joys of their childrens early years and overtures of friendship from coworkers and others. The author was so consumed in their worry about the alcoholic that they were not able to enjoy life.
The author has realized that they have choices, especially about their own attitudes. Today can be the focus of the authors attention. It can be filled with interesting activities if the author allows themselves to see today with the spirit of wonder. The author shares that sometimes the joys of the world seem inappropriate to the way that they are feeling but the author asks: who is out of sync? The rest of the world or me?
Today's Reminder: today I will live in the present and find what I can to enjoy. If there is pain, I will accept that too. But my pain does not have to completely over shadow the enjoyable parts of my reality. I will participate in making more of my joy; I may join in a conversation at work or at a meeting, tell a joke at the dinner table, or laugh with a friend. Just for today, I might even allow myself to sing.
Today's quote: Look to this day! For it is Life, the very Life of Life. ~from the Sanskrit salutation of the dawn
There definitely have been times in my life where I felt out of sync with the world. I wondered how I could enjoy or appreciate anything with the chaos that was going on with the alcoholic. Slowly overtime I have discovered that the alcoholic will do what they will do regardless of what I do. This brings me back to the first step: I am powerless over alcohol. I am powerless over the alcoholic. I may as well make the effort and invest my time in enjoying my day and reaching my goals.
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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
Thanks skorpi for the daily and your share. This serves as a great reminder to place value on my quality of life. What I especially like about Al-anon is the lessons that can be applied to not only as they pertain to the effects of alcoholism but other chaotic and insane worldly situations that mimic living with an active alcoholic. It's been true gift to turn to Al-anon tools such as detachment, slogans such as One Day at a Time, Let It Begin With Me and Let Go and Let God to empower myself to live MY life fully each day.
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Surround yourself with people and elements that support your destiny, not just your history.
Thanks Skorpi for your service and for all above ESH. How many days of my life have I wasted? Far to many, I'm afraid. But instead of dwelling on that, I think, better late than never.
Omg I feel like I have wasted way too many years,not days, worrying, stressing and obsessing.
I work so hard to just focus on the present moment,it's not an easy task and really does feel like work some days. But when I do my life is so much more enjoyable. Maybe one day it will become habit and happen automatically without so much effort.
