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.
I woke up this morning like I have every morning for the last 45 years. For that, as I am every morning, I am grateful.
I slept in late because I had been up late celebrating New Years Eve with a few friends at my house. We played some games, shared fellowship and even danced a little bit, it was fun and great to have friends over enjoying my home with me.
As I lay snug in my bed this am, not quite ready to get up I ran a little inventory on the year 2007 as it applied to me.
Some of the things in did in '07: Went snow skiing for the first time in New Mexico, Drove out to Florida with friends to go to Disney World and Universal Studios, Went to see a Lyle Lovette Concert in San Antonio, Flew out and spent a wonderful few days in fabulous Las Vegas for the first time, went and saw a play "A Tuna Christmas" at the Majestic theatre in San Antonio (something I had wanted to see for years!).
I went to 3 AA/Alanon Conferences in 2007. I told my story at two recovery events. I went to the East Texas Area Statewide convention.
I went hiking in 4 different beautiful state parks. Floated in a innertube down the beautiful Frio River.
Spent countless hours talking to my friends in person, on the phone and on the computer.
Went dancing!
It is not to say that "bad things" did not happen around me, in my life. They did. Friends past away. Relationships changed. Gas prices went up again.
2007 was the best year of my life without a doubt. I know that 2008 will supplant it.
I have a very "religious" friend who was talking to me one day. This person has known me for over a decade now, and knew the "old" me. She was asking me how things were going for me. And in my usual verbose manner...lol... I told her. When I got done she smiled at me and said. "I just asked God about you too, about how you were doing. He told me, David is living his life".
It was my turn to smile then. Because that is so true.
All of the things I did in '07 a few years ago, probably would not have happened. Because I would have let doubt, fear or just plain thinking too damn much, keep me from doing them. Sometimes I still have to prod myself or be prodded by a friend to do something, but the willingness comes so much more easily now.
Willingness to be open to new things. Willingness to share my life with other people. Willingess to listen to my heart sometimes and not get so stuck up in my head in perpetuity.
Yesterday I hung the "piece de resistance" on my living room wall. A wonderful new friend I made in 2007 gifted me with my very first genuine Velvet Elvis painting!!!!! woohoo!!! It is a special gift that I will treasure because of the kindness of its presentation to me and because of what "Elvis" represents to me as my alter ego here at Miracles in Progress.
Velvet Elvis is a gift to me, just like every day is a gift to me from my Higher Power.
Something I have truly come to understand this year, especially with the loss of 3 friends is that I shouldn't take any day for granted.
Each day I get the gift of a New Day from my God. The gift has a time limit of 24 hours though. If I don't open it up and enjoy it, it's gone forever.
My one and only New Year's resolution this year is just this: To be grateful for the gift of each day that my God gives me and to take the time to unwrap it and admire it each and every day.
