~ PATIENCE ~
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Patience
"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is Patience."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Today's topic is Patience! When I first
came to Program, I didn't really know
what abstinence was. I thought it was a
diet. It turned out to be far more than
I ever imagined. since beginning, I've
gained abstinence, I've lost weight and
my physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual well-being has changed more
than I ever thought possible. I've come
so far ... beyond my wildest dreams
... yet, sometimes it feels like it's
still not enough. I'll get in a row with
my 12 year old daughter over some minor
issue. She has a way of pushing my
buttons which sends me into
"fingerpointing" and "lecture" mode -
good intentions gone totally awry!
She'll ultimately tune me out - and I'll
walk away feeling like a bad parent. The
guilt will set in and I'll deride myself
for lacking patience and having bad
judgement! But once I've calmed down -
I'll remind myself that my intentions
were good and - as in my food plan -
progress not perfection has to apply to
my parenting just as it does to my any
other aspect of my recovery. This
requires me to be patient with MYSELF as
well as with others.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will learn to be patient with myself as well as with others.