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.
This page talks about replacing negativity with gratitude for the positive qualities in ourselves, our circumstances, and other human beings. Negativity keeps our life at a standstill. The writer believes they have a beautiful spirit that has been created for some purpose, as do the other people and situations encountered each day. By looking for the positive in everything, the most difficult times in life have produced wonderful changes.
Reminder -- It may be difficult to break a long-established pattern of depression, doom-sayings, and complaining, but it is worth the effort. I will replace a negative attitude with a positive one today.
The quote is an Ojibway Indian saying: Sometimes I go about pitying myself / And all the while I am being carried across the sky / By beautiful clouds.
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I have found a lot of value in looking for the positive. I must admit, when I first heard people in meetings say they were grateful for their loved one's addiction, I thought they were nuts. But as I reflect back on the difficult, even horrific, times I experienced, I realize that they also resulted in my seeing some amazing miracles. I got to find out how kind my friends were, how thoughtful and helpful my children were, and how with their help I was able to come out of the experience grateful and strong. And I got to find Al-Anon, which has given me a new purpose in life.
Thank you for your service and the daily Freetime. I admit to finding it incredibly difficult to see the positive sometimes but have not yet given up altogether. Eventually, the sun breaks through and sometimes it is all I can do to wait for it. Having said that, I get sick of falling sometimes and so recovery is a must. The metaphorical legs may wear out and I beleive the helping hand is found for me in the 12 steps and the programme. In relation to this reading, I think that means cultivating a daily attitude of looking for at least that one thing that is beautiful, hopeful or deserving of gratitude. I also love the quote!
This is indeed an inspiring message I can see HP's actions in my life when I view my life in retrospect and comprehend how all the pieces come together . and am grateful.
Just recently i accepted my son's passing in more depth when I reflected on the many turns my life has taken since then, Thanks to HP I can truly 'see ' Thanks for your service
Good morning, MIP! and thanks for your service, Freetime!
I really like today's reading. it reminds me of how much control I have over my own attitude. I spent a lot of years feeling hopeless and fed on the negativity I surrounded myself with. Focusing on the joy and positivitiy was a challenge at first, but with practice, it gets easier and even more natural.
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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
Thank you for your service, Freetime.
I am humbled to read everyone's shares about this topic, as I have yet to get to that place where I will 'Thank my qualifier.'
But I do feel gratitude for having my support system... Friends, MIP, F2F.
I learned to live my life expecting the worse so that when the "worse" came, I would not be so thrown off guard. However, that kept me living in the negative. But to see or know me superficially, I look and sound like the cheeriest person! It is a facade... it is not the 'real me.'
Just for today I can work on allowing the 'real me' to show herself, and to work on staying out of the negative. That's the goal anyway! LOL
TGIF!!! Going to decorate for 'The most wonderful time of the year this weekend... you guessed it... Halloween! LOL!
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"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Its incredibly hard to see the positive when youve had a bad day. I always doubt myself and at times I have really low self esteem. I remind myself that I am worthy by listening to my husband and kids when they speak. They all have such different attitudes about life and it makes me feel better. Being the child of an alcoholic has given me coping tools that do not apply to my life now and its a battle to overcome that but I may lose a battle here and there. But ultimately I am winning the war. I hope you all have a good day.
Thank you Freetime for your service and the daily. Thanks to all for your shares and ESH. I too came with a habit of looking for what's broken and looking at what wasn't good. It was a hard habit to break and yet, my sponsor did help me greatly by suggesting gratitude lists and asset lists.
Beyond that, when I called and shared about a fretful, stressful 'awful' thing my A did, she kept gently bringing it back to me - what I felt about it. It was through this relationship and step work that I figured out how to be a victor vs. a victim. This has given me the strength and courage to detach from unacceptable behavior while continuing to love my A(s) - sometimes from across the street or town - yet still.
I had to learn to see what was working, what was improved, what was joyful and what brought me calm instead of stress. This was only possible for me by practicing quiet contemplation and meditation each day. Slowly, I too came to see the many miracles in my life in spite of the affects of this disease and those I love who have it.
I do believe that each experience I have each day, pleasant or not, presents me with an opportunity to be a better version of me. Recovery has given me a new level of hope for myself, my present and my future. I see things differently, and today see 'cancer' as a tragedy and a 'relapse' as a speed bump. Before recovery, I viewed almost everything as a tragedy. I can easily say I am grateful for recovery which would not be without the disease, so by default, I'm grateful for the disease.
Happy Friday all - golfed in the rain this morning (not super fun but interesting) and headed out in a while for softball under the lights. Enjoy your day and your weekend!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
