Todays ODAT reading discusses the Al-Anon goal of finding contentment within oneself. The reading points out that the habit of
looking for flaws in others leads to making adverse judgments and effectively pushes love out of our lives. It can then lead to
feelings of remorse because our judgmental character does make the people we encounter in our lives view us as difficult and
unapproachable.
Todays Reminder:
With the help of Al-Anon we can make our world brighter. It has been see that such changes have made many people much happier and content.
I ask for the help of my High Power in making my little victories into bigger ones by living each day as well as I can, for myself and everyone I encounter.
Working and re-working the Al-Anon Steps, One-Day-At-A-Time, I feel the affect the Al-Anon program has made on my life and how that contentment has trickled down to my friends and family.
I learned that I am not a perfect person who has no right to judge any one, instead I am a perfectly imperfect person who is most effective when I mind my own business and put my best attitude
forward without judgment getting involved.
There is no doubt that I have found contentment. Thank you Al-Anon, MIP and HP.
I am especially content today because I got my Covid-19 vaccine yesterday evening - the J&J.
No reactions so far and it has been over 16 hours now, not even a sore arm!!!
Hope everyone is getting their shot as well because you gotta take care!
-- Edited by Debb on Thursday 1st of April 2021 07:16:43 AM
Lyne said
Apr 1, 2021
Thanks Debb for the poem, your service, and ESH. I not only saw flaws and made judgements towards others, but by far the harsh opinion landed on me relentlessly. That contributed to staying stuck in misery and being around others who were similar.
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that with program I am able to feel content, and find joy all around me. It's such a relief and I'm getting used to enjoying life in spite of difficulties on a regular basis. Grateful member always!
Maresie888 said
Apr 1, 2021
Dear Deb
Unfortunately the shot did not bring me contentment I had quite a reactuon to the second shot. I wish I could have been prepared for it
I know there is a 3rd shot planned in Seotember. I will have to think carefully about getting one
Contentment is elusive for me. I am hard pressed to keep up with a gruelling schedule. Nevertheless I have begin to make tremendous progress in getting to.some goals. The cost is a lot of exhaustion. I have regularly gone beyond the point of real fatigue to get there . The shot being one.of them some of us have very real.reactions to it
Debb said
Apr 1, 2021
Maresie888 so sorry you had a reaction to the second shot!!
The shot I got was the J&J (one shot deal). Was able to choose because the center giving the
shots were alternating the Moderna on one day and the J&J the next. I kind of knew I would not do
well with the two shot deal, because I am a long hauler.
PosiesandPuppies said
Apr 1, 2021
Thank you Debb for your service and share, but I especially liked the poem! Unexpected but funny and welcomed!
Today I like finding contentment with myself, and my surroundings. I don't think I could've said that 3 years ago. I am grateful for the tools of Al-Anon.
&
SunnyFrogs said
Apr 1, 2021
Good afternoon everyone.
I just had a large cup of hot chocolate with a big cookie that I slathered peanut butter on. I must say I am feeling pretty content right now. LOL
Seriously though, I am having more and more times of contentment in my life. It's when I am doing things that I enjoy doing like painting and drawing or reading. It's when I am not foucsing on someone else and their issues, not working so hard to fix or chamge anyone else or myself and just allow myself to "be:. While I do think it's good and important to work on myself and make needed changes, I know I can become obsessed with it and it becomes exhausting mentally,physically and spiritually. I know just becoming who I am is as important as any changes I need to make and working on my flaws.
I feel most content when I just "am". When I allow that energy, HP, vibes, whatever you want to call it,flow through me rather than trying to force myself to be who and how I think I should be.
AH had the J&J shot and had no side effects at all for the first few days. He said he felt better than he had in awhile but then he started feeling sick and still kinda is and it's been 2 weeks. I had Moderna and instantly had side effects. I kind of dread getting my 2nd dose in a couple of weeks but I will prepare for it. I would much rather be sick from side effects than sick with Covid.
Mother nature is playing an Aprils Fool joke on us today,it's cold and actually snowing. I can't help but laugh about it though. It's also a good excuse to curl up on the couch and do absolutely nothing. Well,maybe some more cookies and hot chocolate.
Iamhere said
Apr 1, 2021
Happy Thursday MIP. Thank you Debb for your service and the daily. I started my day with a frost delay at golf - it's cold here, yet sunshine, no wind & no snow!!! Praise be - I'm ready for spring and I truly love watching everything green up and sprout forward.
I love what you wrote (((SF))) - that's what I feel/experience as well. When I am just me and letting things happen around me while I am doing what I enjoy - I am content. If/when I worry, focus, obsess, etc. about other people, places or things - my contentment suffers.
I truly am grateful that Al-Anon gave me a different way to live and a different focus. It keeps working so long as I am working it. Love and light all!!
mamalioness said
Apr 1, 2021
Thank you Deb for your service and your share. I can so relate
I think I was harder on myself even then others but it seemed I was always looking for the negative and the flaws and the defects in life in general but now thanks to the program, I find beauty in the ashes that was my life for so long. I can fine not in the actual crimes against me of course not but I can look at the me now, and how Ive progressed in grown and detached from the past. I still have grief to sort out, but I have hope now and I have this loving community and I have my friends, recovery partners, that I share with and I kind of look at people now as if OK I just watch no judgment at all if I see that they are toxic I just walk away and let go and move on if I see they are not, I let the relationship grow slowly based on consistency and healthy behavior and are they trustworthy. In other words I dont have walls but I do still have fences because there are unhealthy people out there but I also know for a fact that there are good people out there that are healthy I guess Im trying to say that I am more open and honest and willing with myself and others
I am less hard on myself--I go one day at a time more, I noticed that I am a bit more mindful and slowing down and paying attention better, slowly I am gaining progress on things that I absolutely hated about me. And Im enjoying life more and more as I learn healthier behaviors and I know that I have to work my program every single day until I am gone from this world because the old patterns can come right back and I know this but I dont dwell on that I just say OK. One day at a time I will work on my program, one day at a time I will practice my behavior modification, one day at a time I will take care of myself and share what I can with others and its kind of funny I had this funny incident happened today
I was at my grocery store it is spelled ALDI. Its a grocery store where you can save on your groceries and when you want a car you go to the place where they are chained and you put A quarter into its slot and the cart is released and if you want your quarterback, you have to return the cart. So I return my cart after shopping and theres all these quarters like three or four of them in slots that people just didnt bother to get so I pulled them all out including mine and I just went looking for people to share half of my bounty with, older folks or just anyone that looked there were two older ladies that I just said are you going to get a cart and they said yes and I said today Is your lucky day so I told them how I scored on all these quarters. And I wanted to share my good luck and they laughed and saying to me and I just walk to my car and laughed
The old self-centered me wouldnt of thought anything like that but I had fun sharing my bounty with these people and we all got a good laugh out of it. I noticed Im laughing more--and the big thing is I notice I am trusting in my higher power more and yeah I get nervous and I can get frazzled and fear-based but with self talk and prayer and talking with my higher power, I can sort it through. Ill never fully recover but I can damn sure make a better life for myself. And I am--one day at a time and my favorite slogans after that one are easy does it and keep the focus on me. I dont know what I would do if I didnt have this program
I will never be a graduate and I am OK with that- I am OK with being a work in progress
DavidG said
Apr 2, 2021
The rhyme is great, Debs... ... I love the autumn leaves- to collect because they enrich the soil beneath our feet, and hold in the moisture... ...the later fruits are deeper and richer that the lighter earlier crops... a good metaphor for middle age and later... :)
This song is melancholy- in a way... but i see gratitude and contentment in it too...
It is nice here, in this group- as some of us are contemplating spring... and for others of us spring is six months away!
The clouds of covid-19 are lifting- gradually.
I think we have hung out here- in solidarity.
Something I shall never ever forget. ...
-- Edited by DavidG on Friday 2nd of April 2021 09:43:03 PM
Happy April 1st - MIP Family!
Rhymes for April let me sing
The pleasures of returning spring .
Fools are made, by far the worst,
On other days besides the First.
~April Rhymes, The Comic Almanack for 1835
by William Makepeace Thackeray, Albert Smith,
Gilbert ŕ Beckett and The Brothers Mayhew
Todays ODAT reading discusses the Al-Anon goal of finding contentment within oneself. The reading points out that the habit of
looking for flaws in others leads to making adverse judgments and effectively pushes love out of our lives. It can then lead to
feelings of remorse because our judgmental character does make the people we encounter in our lives view us as difficult and
unapproachable.
Todays Reminder:
With the help of Al-Anon we can make our world brighter. It has been see that such changes have made many people much happier and content.
I ask for the help of my High Power in making my little victories into bigger ones by living each day as well as I can, for myself and everyone I encounter.
Working and re-working the Al-Anon Steps, One-Day-At-A-Time, I feel the affect the Al-Anon program has made on my life and how that contentment has trickled down to my friends and family.
I learned that I am not a perfect person who has no right to judge any one, instead I am a perfectly imperfect person who is most effective when I mind my own business and put my best attitude
forward without judgment getting involved.
There is no doubt that I have found contentment. Thank you Al-Anon, MIP and HP.
I am especially content today because I got my Covid-19 vaccine yesterday evening - the J&J.
No reactions so far and it has been over 16 hours now, not even a sore arm!!!
Hope everyone is getting their shot as well because you gotta take care!
-- Edited by Debb on Thursday 1st of April 2021 07:16:43 AM
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that with program I am able to feel content, and find joy all around me. It's such a relief and I'm getting used to enjoying life in spite of difficulties on a regular basis. Grateful member always!
Dear Deb
Unfortunately the shot did not bring me contentment I had quite a reactuon to the second shot. I wish I could have been prepared for it
I know there is a 3rd shot planned in Seotember. I will have to think carefully about getting one
Contentment is elusive for me. I am hard pressed to keep up with a gruelling schedule. Nevertheless I have begin to make tremendous progress in getting to.some goals. The cost is a lot of exhaustion. I have regularly gone beyond the point of real fatigue to get there . The shot being one.of them some of us have very real.reactions to it
The shot I got was the J&J (one shot deal). Was able to choose because the center giving the
shots were alternating the Moderna on one day and the J&J the next. I kind of knew I would not do
well with the two shot deal, because I am a long hauler.
Today I like finding contentment with myself, and my surroundings. I don't think I could've said that 3 years ago. I am grateful for the tools of Al-Anon.
I just had a large cup of hot chocolate with a big cookie that I slathered peanut butter on. I must say I am feeling pretty content right now. LOL
Seriously though, I am having more and more times of contentment in my life. It's when I am doing things that I enjoy doing like painting and drawing or reading. It's when I am not foucsing on someone else and their issues, not working so hard to fix or chamge anyone else or myself and just allow myself to "be:. While I do think it's good and important to work on myself and make needed changes, I know I can become obsessed with it and it becomes exhausting mentally,physically and spiritually. I know just becoming who I am is as important as any changes I need to make and working on my flaws.
I feel most content when I just "am". When I allow that energy, HP, vibes, whatever you want to call it,flow through me rather than trying to force myself to be who and how I think I should be.
AH had the J&J shot and had no side effects at all for the first few days. He said he felt better than he had in awhile but then he started feeling sick and still kinda is and it's been 2 weeks. I had Moderna and instantly had side effects. I kind of dread getting my 2nd dose in a couple of weeks but I will prepare for it. I would much rather be sick from side effects than sick with Covid.
Mother nature is playing an Aprils Fool joke on us today,it's cold and actually snowing. I can't help but laugh about it though. It's also a good excuse to curl up on the couch and do absolutely nothing. Well,maybe some more cookies and hot chocolate.
I love what you wrote (((SF))) - that's what I feel/experience as well. When I am just me and letting things happen around me while I am doing what I enjoy - I am content. If/when I worry, focus, obsess, etc. about other people, places or things - my contentment suffers.
I truly am grateful that Al-Anon gave me a different way to live and a different focus. It keeps working so long as I am working it. Love and light all!!
I think I was harder on myself even then others but it seemed I was always looking for the negative and the flaws and the defects in life in general but now thanks to the program, I find beauty in the ashes that was my life for so long. I can fine not in the actual crimes against me of course not but I can look at the me now, and how Ive progressed in grown and detached from the past. I still have grief to sort out, but I have hope now and I have this loving community and I have my friends, recovery partners, that I share with and I kind of look at people now as if OK I just watch no judgment at all if I see that they are toxic I just walk away and let go and move on if I see they are not, I let the relationship grow slowly based on consistency and healthy behavior and are they trustworthy. In other words I dont have walls but I do still have fences because there are unhealthy people out there but I also know for a fact that there are good people out there that are healthy I guess Im trying to say that I am more open and honest and willing with myself and others
I am less hard on myself--I go one day at a time more, I noticed that I am a bit more mindful and slowing down and paying attention better, slowly I am gaining progress on things that I absolutely hated about me. And Im enjoying life more and more as I learn healthier behaviors and I know that I have to work my program every single day until I am gone from this world because the old patterns can come right back and I know this but I dont dwell on that I just say OK. One day at a time I will work on my program, one day at a time I will practice my behavior modification, one day at a time I will take care of myself and share what I can with others and its kind of funny I had this funny incident happened today
I was at my grocery store it is spelled ALDI. Its a grocery store where you can save on your groceries and when you want a car you go to the place where they are chained and you put A quarter into its slot and the cart is released and if you want your quarterback, you have to return the cart. So I return my cart after shopping and theres all these quarters like three or four of them in slots that people just didnt bother to get so I pulled them all out including mine and I just went looking for people to share half of my bounty with, older folks or just anyone that looked there were two older ladies that I just said are you going to get a cart and they said yes and I said today Is your lucky day so I told them how I scored on all these quarters. And I wanted to share my good luck and they laughed and saying to me and I just walk to my car and laughed
The old self-centered me wouldnt of thought anything like that but I had fun sharing my bounty with these people and we all got a good laugh out of it. I noticed Im laughing more--and the big thing is I notice I am trusting in my higher power more and yeah I get nervous and I can get frazzled and fear-based but with self talk and prayer and talking with my higher power, I can sort it through. Ill never fully recover but I can damn sure make a better life for myself. And I am--one day at a time and my favorite slogans after that one are easy does it and keep the focus on me. I dont know what I would do if I didnt have this program
I will never be a graduate and I am OK with that- I am OK with being a work in progress
This song is melancholy- in a way... but i see gratitude and contentment in it too...
It is nice here, in this group- as some of us are contemplating spring... and for others of us spring is six months away!
The clouds of covid-19 are lifting- gradually.
I think we have hung out here- in solidarity.
Something I shall never ever forget.
...
-- Edited by DavidG on Friday 2nd of April 2021 09:43:03 PM