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.
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master; If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same: If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings -- nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling.
There is much to be gained by reading these words and trying to put them into daily practice and I thought that some of you might benefit by reading them, just as I have been encouraged by them today.
I am practising them each day and can say that today was GOOD.
My doctor's appointment was excellent, and I managed to get my medication changed. Whilst I was there the counsellor had a cancellation and so I saw him too, thus releasing the Thursday visit; however I now have to go for xrays as I may have at least one broken bone in my right foot.
If that is the case I will need to be referred to another surgeon for the removal of the artificial joints in that foot and to get my foot in plaster so that the broken joints heal properly, so I am just hoping the artificial joints are not broken and the bones are just bruised. After having both my legs in plaster for almost two years I just do not want more plaster and crutches again.
The counsellor that I saw today said that I have been existing in what is known as survival mode and I need help to figure out how to change this learnt behaviour/thinking pattern. However, I am absolutely sure I can change IF...
Such a little word, yet so VERY POWERFUL.
After nearly 50 years of this survival modus operandum it is going to take some undoing! Once again I am praying for yet another MIRACLE. Perhaps there are others too who will join me in doing just this for themselves too. Let's walk that path together? Please, who wants to join me in this endeavour? Let's do this together, eh?
Love to all Suzannah
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Out of the ruin of my past I have found the fortress of myself and I know how to defend it.
Strive for WISDOM; Seek SERENITY; NEVER compromise your INTEGRITY.
I pray that your artificial joints aren't broken and the ankle is just bruised. I will join you in prayer and a journey of Rudyard Kipling to stay on the positive side of "If". This was such an inspirational poem thanks for sharing it with all of us.
I have definitely been on survival for ever and then some. Breaking out of it is so hard. I try to set goals each day and work on what needs to be done and keep looking at that. Every day I can make movement.
I think of my dad when I read that poem. He could walk amongst many people regardless of status. I read the poem to a wellness class that I teach. The song says "I want to live not merely survive". Hope this will be true for you.
I too like the If by Kipling and join along with all the replies to live, not just survive. Reminded me of learning in al anon reading that survival was not as positive as I thought it was. I knew I would survive but now I know there is more than just survival - amazing.
Thanks for sharing this Suzannah and will keep you in my prayers. hugs, ddub
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"Choices are the hinges of destiny." Pythagoras You can't change the past, but you can change the future.