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 wanted to begin this post and address all the things that are difficult for me in this life journey. Man, life is hitting hard these days. And, as I was going over some of that in my head yesterday, I thought "ugh..let's shift that to gratitude instead." Being scared and worried and overwhelmed had just gotten soooo exhausting.
So, I breathed in the sun and listened to the birds. I decided that I am going to offer myself and my son (7) a new practice of "nightly sticky notes with something thankful/positive to end our day with". We'll state what we are appreciative of, keep the focus positive, one word each night on a sticky note, post them for each day for a whole month. Then the next month start again.
When i picked up my son from daycare i was so thankful that my son was in a happy mood. The last few days have been sort of tense for us. As we happily walked down the hall I reached for his hand and told him i was happy to see him. He didn't grab my hand and I asked him, "do you think you might be too old to hold my hand now?" He grabbled it and said, "No" hugging my arm a little. I asked, "how old do you think you might be when you are too old to hold my hand?" He responded, "Never". Which prompted a discussion about how no matter how old he gets or I get, i will always be his mom and he my son.
Rora, how precious your little boy is. I myself have a seven year old boy and he minds me holding his hand in front of school. You can forget about kisses too. That would embarass him.
I love filling each day with the attitude of gratitude. I know I dont have to "feel" it to do it. It always lightens my load when I practice that spiritual principal.
Love it Rora :) It's IS so easy to forget how much we have to be grateful for!
Tommy, my little one is 7 as well. It's still ok, I don't know if it will be when he's in 2nd .. lol. He's a hugger and a hand holder at least. My daughter is 12 and as long as I live I will never forget the first day of 3rd grade and she didn't want me to kiss her in front of her friends .. LOL. I had a snappy come back on that one .. LOL .. anyway, (something to the effect of well, I can kiss or you on the cheek or lick you on the cheek which would you rather? I have no idea what possessed me to say that .. LOL. She was in ewwww mode .. lol. ) I'm "allowed" to kiss her on her cheek and she can make a face, so her friends don't think she thinks it's ok. Right now she's really in the whole embarrassed by the rest of us mode. *sigh* So not ready for that in the least. LOL.
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Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
Great Post Rora I love the sticky note idea My son who is also my A will still hold my hand sometimes while we walk and for that I am thankful Blessings
I have an 8 year old son who is very cuddly and still ok with me hugging or kissing him on the cheek around his friends. I love your post today. I needed to hear it so thanks for doing it :) HUGS!
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-youfoundme
Let go and let God...Let it be... let it begin with me...
Great post and perspective Rora.... I love the idea of nightly sticky notes.....If I could offer one other suggestion - how about a morning routine where you say an affirmation to yourself every day when you wake up? It did wonders for me - if you need to, go buy a book of daily affirmations, and simply read one, and embrace one - each and every day... .It is an awesome way to get each day off to a positive start...
Take care
Tom
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"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
I find that generating a mental or physical gratitude list is habit forming. I am beginning to come up with thoughts of gratitude throughout the day without even trying. Thank goodness our thinking (mind) is maleable, no?
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You have to go through the darkness to truly know the light. Lama Surya Das
Resentment is like taking poison & waiting for the other person to die. Malachy McCourt
