~ THE PRESENT MOMENT ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
How simple it is to see that we can only
be happy now, and there will never be a
time when it is not now.
Gerald Jampolsky
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
During my many years of life as an
compulsive eater, I thought happiness
was something that was the privilege of
other people. I could not imagine that
happiness would be a part of my
life. All I really wanted was to lose
weight.
My issues with food and weight colored
everything else. I always thought the
biggest weight I carried was physical in
nature. When I accepted the fact that I
have a disease, and the weight I carried
was physical, emotional and spiritual,
my life began to change immeasurably. As
I took the Steps to recovery, I began to
experience healing on all three
levels. I began to see life differently,
and to live life in a whole new way.
Before recovery, I could not see the
precious moment of the present. My eyes
were focused on regret of the past, and
fear of the future. I totally missed the
complete joy of each present
moment. Recovery has helped me to clear
up weight I carried from my past, and to
eliminate my fear of the future;
replacing fear with faith. As I live in
recovery, I can choose to be present in
each moment, and enjoy the wonder and
delight that is the gift of life.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I choose to live in the present moment ... and to embrace the happiness found there.
Comedores Compulsivos Anonimos ( CCA) é uma Irmandade de indivíduos que, compartilhando experiências e apoio mútuo, estão a recuperar de comer compulsivamente.
Recovery Meditations ~ Happiness ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 19, 2011
~ HAPPINESS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
The greatest happiness you can have is
knowing that you do not necessarily
require happiness.
William Saroyan
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
How many times during my life have I
said that all I want is "just to be
happy." We are told early on that our
legacy is "life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness." Did you notice that our
forefathers used the word "pursuit?" How
very wise they were.
Happiness is not automatic. Life is
difficult and it's supposed to be that
way. If we expect happiness and we
expect life to be easy, at some point in
time we are going to be very
disappointed. I thought eating food made
me happy and it did ... for a short
time. There were other temporary
compulsions in my life that made me
think I was happy ~ but again for only a
short time.
As I began to work the Steps, I began to
desire something other than happiness. I
found myself yearning for serenity
... and I found it. The way I found it
was by not expecting the world and
everyone in it to make me happy. I
learned that life was more of an
adventure than a bowl of cherries. I
learned that the more I expected from
people, places and things, the more
disappointed I was ... and the more
disappointed I became, the less happy I
was.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will not require happiness. But when I least expect it .... happiness will find me.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
The greatest happiness you can have is
knowing that you do not necessarily
require happiness.
William Saroyan
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
How many times during my life have I
said that all I want is "just to be
happy." We are told early on that our
legacy is "life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness." Did you notice that our
forefathers used the word "pursuit?" How
very wise they were.
Happiness is not automatic. Life is
difficult and it's supposed to be that
way. If we expect happiness and we
expect life to be easy, at some point in
time we are going to be very
disappointed. I thought eating food made
me happy and it did ... for a short
time. There were other temporary
compulsions in my life that made me
think I was happy ~ but again for only a
short time.
As I began to work the Steps, I began to
desire something other than happiness. I
found myself yearning for serenity
... and I found it. The way I found it
was by not expecting the world and
everyone in it to make me happy. I
learned that life was more of an
adventure than a bowl of cherries. I
learned that the more I expected from
people, places and things, the more
disappointed I was ... and the more
disappointed I became, the less happy I
was.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will not require happiness. But when I least expect it .... happiness will find me.
Recovery Meditations ~ Unconditional Love ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 18, 2011
~ UNCONDITIONAL LOVE ~
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
The ultimate lesson all of us have to
learn is unconditional love, which
includes not only others but ourselves
as well.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I don't think I knew what unconditional
love was before I came into the program.
After all, I had always felt that my
mother had only loved and accepted me
conditionally, and that in order for me
to receive approval and love from her, I
had to be the best at everything I
did. I had to be at the top of the
class, win prizes for ballet and in
general be a credit to her, so that she
could bask in the reflected
limelight. Perhaps that was only my
perception. But as a result, I wrote a
script for myself that, in order to be
loved, accepted and loveable, I had to
excel at everything. I became an
overachiever academically, I had to be
the best wife, best mother, best cook,
in short, the best everything. No wonder
I had to eat to cope with all this
self-inflicted pressure.
The unconditional love and acceptance I
received when I first came into these
program rooms was something I had never
experienced before. "Let us love you
until you can learn to love yourself,"
they said. This was something totally
foreign to me. How could I be loveable
when I was fat and bloated? How could
they love me when I hated myself for all
the secret eating that caused me to feel
totally miserable? But love me they did,
and that was the beginning of my
healing. At one stage fairly early in my
recovery, one of my daughters accused me
of being so busy going to meetings and
doing courses and learning to love
myself, that I was too busy to love
them. How wrong she was! It was only
when I had learned enough self-love and
approval of myself, exactly as I was,
that I was able to love all my children
fully and unconditionally.
I am now able to love and accept all my
children exactly as they are. None of
them are perfect, as I am not, but they
are special in their own right, and I
love them for who they are and not for
anything they do or don't do.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I practice being warm and accepting of
all those I love, as I accept and love
myself for being who I am today -- a
child of God.
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
The ultimate lesson all of us have to
learn is unconditional love, which
includes not only others but ourselves
as well.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I don't think I knew what unconditional
love was before I came into the program.
After all, I had always felt that my
mother had only loved and accepted me
conditionally, and that in order for me
to receive approval and love from her, I
had to be the best at everything I
did. I had to be at the top of the
class, win prizes for ballet and in
general be a credit to her, so that she
could bask in the reflected
limelight. Perhaps that was only my
perception. But as a result, I wrote a
script for myself that, in order to be
loved, accepted and loveable, I had to
excel at everything. I became an
overachiever academically, I had to be
the best wife, best mother, best cook,
in short, the best everything. No wonder
I had to eat to cope with all this
self-inflicted pressure.
The unconditional love and acceptance I
received when I first came into these
program rooms was something I had never
experienced before. "Let us love you
until you can learn to love yourself,"
they said. This was something totally
foreign to me. How could I be loveable
when I was fat and bloated? How could
they love me when I hated myself for all
the secret eating that caused me to feel
totally miserable? But love me they did,
and that was the beginning of my
healing. At one stage fairly early in my
recovery, one of my daughters accused me
of being so busy going to meetings and
doing courses and learning to love
myself, that I was too busy to love
them. How wrong she was! It was only
when I had learned enough self-love and
approval of myself, exactly as I was,
that I was able to love all my children
fully and unconditionally.
I am now able to love and accept all my
children exactly as they are. None of
them are perfect, as I am not, but they
are special in their own right, and I
love them for who they are and not for
anything they do or don't do.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I practice being warm and accepting of
all those I love, as I accept and love
myself for being who I am today -- a
child of God.
Recovery Meditations ~ Fearless ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 17, 2011
~ FEARLESS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
As we felt new power flow in, as we
enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered
we could face life successfully, as we
became conscious of His presence, we
began to lose our fear of today,
tomorrow or the hereafter.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I refuse to be frightened to the point
of missing the opportunities my Higher
Power has provided for me. I won't hurt
myself by avoiding being hurt. That's
what I do when I avoid risks because I'm
afraid the outcome will be painful.
When I'm engulfed in fear, I am not
trusting my Higher Power. When I look
back, hasn't He done for me what I
couldn't do for myself? Can I name
those times? Possibly a doomed
relationship I couldn't end and God
ended for me by having the other person
walk away? Maybe a financial crisis
that was suddenly alleviated from an
unexpected source? How about the ability
to detach from a loved one's issues
without feeling responsible for "fixing"
everything or taking their struggles
personally?
Today I will be grateful for even the
painful times because, sometimes, they
are the lesser of two hurts--the easiest
being when God steps in to protect me
and the hardest being when my will
prevents me from letting go of something
that isn't good for me.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will trust my Higher Power and know
that where I am today is right where I
need to be. I don't have to have all
the answers.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
As we felt new power flow in, as we
enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered
we could face life successfully, as we
became conscious of His presence, we
began to lose our fear of today,
tomorrow or the hereafter.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I refuse to be frightened to the point
of missing the opportunities my Higher
Power has provided for me. I won't hurt
myself by avoiding being hurt. That's
what I do when I avoid risks because I'm
afraid the outcome will be painful.
When I'm engulfed in fear, I am not
trusting my Higher Power. When I look
back, hasn't He done for me what I
couldn't do for myself? Can I name
those times? Possibly a doomed
relationship I couldn't end and God
ended for me by having the other person
walk away? Maybe a financial crisis
that was suddenly alleviated from an
unexpected source? How about the ability
to detach from a loved one's issues
without feeling responsible for "fixing"
everything or taking their struggles
personally?
Today I will be grateful for even the
painful times because, sometimes, they
are the lesser of two hurts--the easiest
being when God steps in to protect me
and the hardest being when my will
prevents me from letting go of something
that isn't good for me.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will trust my Higher Power and know
that where I am today is right where I
need to be. I don't have to have all
the answers.
Recovery Meditations ~ Forgiveness ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 16, 2011
~ FORGIVENESS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Forgiving is not forgetting; it's
letting go of the hurt.
Mary McCleod Bethune
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
When I first came into the program, I
was so fired up with anger and
resentment that I had no space for any
other emotions. After all, I had the
food which would anesthetize me against
any emotions I didn't want to feel. I
was angry with God for all the trauma
and losses that had happened to me in my
life. I blamed my mother for not being
the kind of mother I wanted, which was,
of course, why I ate. But the person
towards whom I felt the most anger and
resentment was my ex-husband, who never
financially supported my children,
making my financial burden and my
present husband's very heavy. What made
it worse was that he was good to the
children and they thought he was great
because they would have fun with him on
a weekend, while we had all the
financial responsibilty and resulting
worry.
But when I came to Step Eight, my
sponsor gently reminded me that I needed
to forgive the people towards whom I
felt the most anger, namely my mother
and my ex-husband. My mother had passed
away and so I had to write a long letter
to her, forgiving her for not being the
person I wanted her to be and also
making amends to her for my part in it
all. I realize now that she did the best
she knew how, just as I have done with
my children, and I have been able to
forgive her with love. When it came to
forgiving my ex-husband, I knew that I
wasn't able forgive him in person, but I
was able to write a letter to him which
I never sent. In it, I forgave him for
being the irresponsible person that he
is. It was like a weight had been
lifted from my shoulders. When my
younger daughter had her 21st birthday,
I could be there for her and not spoil
it as I had done before, and in fact, I
could be almost friendly to her father.
As a result, the relationship with all
my children has improved a hundredfold,
but more importantly, I'm a much better
person for it.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will forgive the people who have
harmed me, let them go with love, and
entrust them to their Higher Power.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Forgiving is not forgetting; it's
letting go of the hurt.
Mary McCleod Bethune
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
When I first came into the program, I
was so fired up with anger and
resentment that I had no space for any
other emotions. After all, I had the
food which would anesthetize me against
any emotions I didn't want to feel. I
was angry with God for all the trauma
and losses that had happened to me in my
life. I blamed my mother for not being
the kind of mother I wanted, which was,
of course, why I ate. But the person
towards whom I felt the most anger and
resentment was my ex-husband, who never
financially supported my children,
making my financial burden and my
present husband's very heavy. What made
it worse was that he was good to the
children and they thought he was great
because they would have fun with him on
a weekend, while we had all the
financial responsibilty and resulting
worry.
But when I came to Step Eight, my
sponsor gently reminded me that I needed
to forgive the people towards whom I
felt the most anger, namely my mother
and my ex-husband. My mother had passed
away and so I had to write a long letter
to her, forgiving her for not being the
person I wanted her to be and also
making amends to her for my part in it
all. I realize now that she did the best
she knew how, just as I have done with
my children, and I have been able to
forgive her with love. When it came to
forgiving my ex-husband, I knew that I
wasn't able forgive him in person, but I
was able to write a letter to him which
I never sent. In it, I forgave him for
being the irresponsible person that he
is. It was like a weight had been
lifted from my shoulders. When my
younger daughter had her 21st birthday,
I could be there for her and not spoil
it as I had done before, and in fact, I
could be almost friendly to her father.
As a result, the relationship with all
my children has improved a hundredfold,
but more importantly, I'm a much better
person for it.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will forgive the people who have
harmed me, let them go with love, and
entrust them to their Higher Power.
Recovery Meditations ~ Success ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 15, 2011
~SUCCESS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I have begun everything with the idea
that I could succeed, and I never had
much patience with the multitudes of
people who are always ready to explain
why one cannot succeed. I have always
had a high regard for the man who could
tell me how to succeed.
Booker T. Washington
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is
my main source of inspiration when it
comes to recovery issues. It's proven to
be a valuable asset to my program.
I've learned from the Big Book that
recovery from any compulsive disease is
possible. We are given Twelve Steps to
follow, and told that if we do what our
predecessors did, then we WILL recover.
We have to be willing to go to any
length to succeed. We have to do the
footwork. The people who don't succeed
in this program are the ones who don't
avail themselves of all the help that's
available to them. They don't read the
literature, they don't go to meetings,
they don't do service ... they don't do
what those who have gone before have
done. So they wallow in their disease
instead of recovering.
There's a reason why we're told, "Rarely
have we seen a person fail who has
thoroughly followed our path." That
means the program works IF you work
it. Those who don't work the program
don't recover. That's a pretty powerful
statement, but it's true, and for some
reason, a lot of compulsive people just
don't get it. They keep doing the same
old things and getting the same old
results. In the process, they remain
fully in the grip of their
disease. Sure, recovery is a miracle,
but it won't fall into your lap. You
need to work for it, and by the grace of
the God of your understanding, you'll
receive the miracle.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I remember that it's not enough to talk
the talk; I need to walk the walk if I
want to recover.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I have begun everything with the idea
that I could succeed, and I never had
much patience with the multitudes of
people who are always ready to explain
why one cannot succeed. I have always
had a high regard for the man who could
tell me how to succeed.
Booker T. Washington
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is
my main source of inspiration when it
comes to recovery issues. It's proven to
be a valuable asset to my program.
I've learned from the Big Book that
recovery from any compulsive disease is
possible. We are given Twelve Steps to
follow, and told that if we do what our
predecessors did, then we WILL recover.
We have to be willing to go to any
length to succeed. We have to do the
footwork. The people who don't succeed
in this program are the ones who don't
avail themselves of all the help that's
available to them. They don't read the
literature, they don't go to meetings,
they don't do service ... they don't do
what those who have gone before have
done. So they wallow in their disease
instead of recovering.
There's a reason why we're told, "Rarely
have we seen a person fail who has
thoroughly followed our path." That
means the program works IF you work
it. Those who don't work the program
don't recover. That's a pretty powerful
statement, but it's true, and for some
reason, a lot of compulsive people just
don't get it. They keep doing the same
old things and getting the same old
results. In the process, they remain
fully in the grip of their
disease. Sure, recovery is a miracle,
but it won't fall into your lap. You
need to work for it, and by the grace of
the God of your understanding, you'll
receive the miracle.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I remember that it's not enough to talk
the talk; I need to walk the walk if I
want to recover.
Recovery Meditations ~ Be Still ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 14, 2011
Recovery Meditations para RECOVERYMEDITA.
~ BE STILL ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Be still, and know that I am God.
The Bible, Book of Psalms
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I don't always know what "normal"
is. I'm learning that my disease keeps
me from having a normal relationship
with food, but I also know that there
are times when my feelings and thoughts
are due to normal circumstances. I might
not feel well physically, I could be
fatigued from a demanding task, or I
might simply be having an off day. There
are normal reactions to these situations
and I can feel them. Not everything is
caused by my disease!
However, the way I handle these kinds of
experiences can very much be affected by
my disease. On those bad days, I don't
have to make important decisions and I
don't have to filter experiences through
these thoughts and feelings. I can
postpone things until I'm on a more even
keel and, just for today, take care of
myself and do the next right thing.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I am grateful for the ways I am "normal"
and thank God for the knowledge that I
don't have to let my disease make me
think everything about me is "sick." Let
me simply be still on those uneven days
and know that God is God and He is
there.
~ BE STILL ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Be still, and know that I am God.
The Bible, Book of Psalms
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I don't always know what "normal"
is. I'm learning that my disease keeps
me from having a normal relationship
with food, but I also know that there
are times when my feelings and thoughts
are due to normal circumstances. I might
not feel well physically, I could be
fatigued from a demanding task, or I
might simply be having an off day. There
are normal reactions to these situations
and I can feel them. Not everything is
caused by my disease!
However, the way I handle these kinds of
experiences can very much be affected by
my disease. On those bad days, I don't
have to make important decisions and I
don't have to filter experiences through
these thoughts and feelings. I can
postpone things until I'm on a more even
keel and, just for today, take care of
myself and do the next right thing.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I am grateful for the ways I am "normal"
and thank God for the knowledge that I
don't have to let my disease make me
think everything about me is "sick." Let
me simply be still on those uneven days
and know that God is God and He is
there.
Recovery Meditations ~ Freedom ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 13, 2011
~ FREEDOM ~
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.
The Bible, Book of John
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
In the past, when I was threatened by
another person's thoughts, beliefs,
actions, or desires, I simply deemed
them completely unacceptable and worked
hard to convince the other person just
how wrong they were. I cited all kinds
of religious doctrine and politically
correct ideas to try to convince the
other person why their ideas were
unacceptable.
This "convincing" was nothing more than
an attempt to control another so I
wouldn't have to face myself or any of
the things that caused me anxiety and
fear. All I succeeded in doing was
forcing others to help me lie to
myself. Of course, this also created its
own anxiety and fear, so I had to do
something to cover it up. What did I do?
I compulsively overate, I binged, I
purged, I exercised, I starved myself, I
abused laxatives, and on and on.
Today, because of my Higher Power and
the gifts of this program, I can look at
why some thoughts, feelings, beliefs and
desires threaten me. I can be gentle
with myself as I look at which of my
"boo-boo buttons" have been pushed. I
can ask myself how I've been hurt by
these ideas in the past and learn how
those "boo-boo buttons" were produced in
the first place.
Just like a wound, exposing my hurts to
the sunlight helps them heal. Bringing
them out into the light helps me see all
the truth about them--not just the
distorted parts I felt in the
darkness. I can see what my part was and
I can see what the part of others may
have been. Through working the Twelve
Steps, I can find peace with these hurts
and experience the promise of not
regretting or wanting to close the door
on the past.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I can set myself free from the darkness by looking at past hurts in the light of truth.
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.
The Bible, Book of John
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
In the past, when I was threatened by
another person's thoughts, beliefs,
actions, or desires, I simply deemed
them completely unacceptable and worked
hard to convince the other person just
how wrong they were. I cited all kinds
of religious doctrine and politically
correct ideas to try to convince the
other person why their ideas were
unacceptable.
This "convincing" was nothing more than
an attempt to control another so I
wouldn't have to face myself or any of
the things that caused me anxiety and
fear. All I succeeded in doing was
forcing others to help me lie to
myself. Of course, this also created its
own anxiety and fear, so I had to do
something to cover it up. What did I do?
I compulsively overate, I binged, I
purged, I exercised, I starved myself, I
abused laxatives, and on and on.
Today, because of my Higher Power and
the gifts of this program, I can look at
why some thoughts, feelings, beliefs and
desires threaten me. I can be gentle
with myself as I look at which of my
"boo-boo buttons" have been pushed. I
can ask myself how I've been hurt by
these ideas in the past and learn how
those "boo-boo buttons" were produced in
the first place.
Just like a wound, exposing my hurts to
the sunlight helps them heal. Bringing
them out into the light helps me see all
the truth about them--not just the
distorted parts I felt in the
darkness. I can see what my part was and
I can see what the part of others may
have been. Through working the Twelve
Steps, I can find peace with these hurts
and experience the promise of not
regretting or wanting to close the door
on the past.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I can set myself free from the darkness by looking at past hurts in the light of truth.
Recovery Meditations ~ Family ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 12, 2011
~ FAMILY ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Call it a clan, call it a network, call
it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever
you call it, whoever you are, you need
one.
Jane Howard (from the book "The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude" by Sarah Ban Breathnach)
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
As an only child of parents who
immigrated and left their own families
behind, I have always felt that I was
missing out on the great wealth of
sharing and caring that I saw other
people have in their families. That was
before recovery.
Today, I have an extended family -- not
only by marriage -- but by the simple
fact that my Higher Power led me to the
great wealth of caring and sharing that
I have found in perhaps the strangest
place of all -- cyberspace -- in the
form of online recovery loops.
Being prone to isolation, my disease
first led me to seek out others who have
struggled with compulsive overeating,
and that, in turn, led me to my new
'family.' As someone so wonderfully
expressed it to me recently, it's a
"family of choice." What a concept! My
family of choice not only has sisters
and brothers, it also is filled with
mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles --
more than I could ever have dreamed of
before, and each brings into my life
more experience, strength and hope than
I could ever have imagined.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I thank God that I have found this huge, loving family that constantly offers me hope, inspiration, understanding ... and most of all love.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Call it a clan, call it a network, call
it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever
you call it, whoever you are, you need
one.
Jane Howard (from the book "The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude" by Sarah Ban Breathnach)
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
As an only child of parents who
immigrated and left their own families
behind, I have always felt that I was
missing out on the great wealth of
sharing and caring that I saw other
people have in their families. That was
before recovery.
Today, I have an extended family -- not
only by marriage -- but by the simple
fact that my Higher Power led me to the
great wealth of caring and sharing that
I have found in perhaps the strangest
place of all -- cyberspace -- in the
form of online recovery loops.
Being prone to isolation, my disease
first led me to seek out others who have
struggled with compulsive overeating,
and that, in turn, led me to my new
'family.' As someone so wonderfully
expressed it to me recently, it's a
"family of choice." What a concept! My
family of choice not only has sisters
and brothers, it also is filled with
mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles --
more than I could ever have dreamed of
before, and each brings into my life
more experience, strength and hope than
I could ever have imagined.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I thank God that I have found this huge, loving family that constantly offers me hope, inspiration, understanding ... and most of all love.
Recovery Meditations ~ Fear ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 11, 2011
~ FEAR ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
What I have always feared has happened to me.
What I have dreaded has come to be.
The Bible, Book of Job
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
There are different kinds of fear. Some
fear is good, because it helps us to be
able to preserve our life. Babies, for
example, have a fear of falling. It just
seems to be a natural instinct. Any fear
that protects us from harming ourselves
is a good fear.
However, when fear becomes an obsession,
it is getting out of hand. "What I have
always feared" has come to pass. Why do
we go looking for trouble? There is a
saying, "Don't let clouds of fear of the
morrow hide today's sunshine." We can
get so anxious about what's going to
happen in the future that we don't enjoy
living today.
Life is a precious gift to be lived one
day at a time, and is to be shared with
others. This New Year, let us pass this
gift on to our friends and family,
especially our friends in recovery
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
This is how I will live my life: One day at a time, one moment at a time, sharing my precious gift with another through Twelve Step giving.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
What I have always feared has happened to me.
What I have dreaded has come to be.
The Bible, Book of Job
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
There are different kinds of fear. Some
fear is good, because it helps us to be
able to preserve our life. Babies, for
example, have a fear of falling. It just
seems to be a natural instinct. Any fear
that protects us from harming ourselves
is a good fear.
However, when fear becomes an obsession,
it is getting out of hand. "What I have
always feared" has come to pass. Why do
we go looking for trouble? There is a
saying, "Don't let clouds of fear of the
morrow hide today's sunshine." We can
get so anxious about what's going to
happen in the future that we don't enjoy
living today.
Life is a precious gift to be lived one
day at a time, and is to be shared with
others. This New Year, let us pass this
gift on to our friends and family,
especially our friends in recovery
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
This is how I will live my life: One day at a time, one moment at a time, sharing my precious gift with another through Twelve Step giving.
Recovery Meditations ~ Aging ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 10, 2011
~ AGING ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Those who love deeply never grow old;
they may die of old age, but they die young.
Benjamin Franklin
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I used to be afraid of getting older. I
was also afraid to become friends with
older people, because I would come to
love them and then they would die. I
could not handle unpleasant feelings
(other than if I overate to stop feeling
them) because the feeling of
unpleasantness would totally devastate
me.
In working the Twelve Step program, my
Higher Power has brought me great
recovery in this area ... I am now able
to handle the grief and sorrow that come
up when I allow myself to get to know
and love older people and then they
die. I am now free in this area! I get
to enjoy the wisdom and beauty that they
have to share, from all their life
experiences, and from the beautiful
people they are!
Another beautiful gift from my Higher
Power came when I started relating to
older people again. When the first one
died, it really threw me, and I was very
sad. But I got up the next day and had a
great spiritual awakening: this person
was missing and that was sad, but I
looked around and saw all the other
wonderful people still there in my life,
with whom I got to share another day!
Life suddenly became much more precious
to me ... to have one more day to be
with and share with someone who touches
my soul!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I enjoy myself as I become older. I allow myself to enjoy friendships with those who are older than me. I thank my Higher Power for every day and every moment of precious life!
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Those who love deeply never grow old;
they may die of old age, but they die young.
Benjamin Franklin
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I used to be afraid of getting older. I
was also afraid to become friends with
older people, because I would come to
love them and then they would die. I
could not handle unpleasant feelings
(other than if I overate to stop feeling
them) because the feeling of
unpleasantness would totally devastate
me.
In working the Twelve Step program, my
Higher Power has brought me great
recovery in this area ... I am now able
to handle the grief and sorrow that come
up when I allow myself to get to know
and love older people and then they
die. I am now free in this area! I get
to enjoy the wisdom and beauty that they
have to share, from all their life
experiences, and from the beautiful
people they are!
Another beautiful gift from my Higher
Power came when I started relating to
older people again. When the first one
died, it really threw me, and I was very
sad. But I got up the next day and had a
great spiritual awakening: this person
was missing and that was sad, but I
looked around and saw all the other
wonderful people still there in my life,
with whom I got to share another day!
Life suddenly became much more precious
to me ... to have one more day to be
with and share with someone who touches
my soul!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I enjoy myself as I become older. I allow myself to enjoy friendships with those who are older than me. I thank my Higher Power for every day and every moment of precious life!
Recovery Meditations ~ Feelings ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 9, 2011
~ FEELINGS ~
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Few are those who see with their own
eyes and feel with their own hearts.
Albert Einstein
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Before working the Twelve Step program,
one reason I used to overeat was that I
couldn't manage my feelings. My feelings
were overwhelming and incapacitating to
me. I would also overreact to feelings
and this would make them truly more than
I could handle. So I would then overeat
to make the feelings stop. I would stuff
myself, to stuff them down!
In working the Twelve Step program, I
got a chance to work through past hurts
and resentments that intensified my
feelings. I learned to feel my feelings,
just as they are, and how to stop
overreacting to them. I learned to sort
through messages my family gave me about
feelings, that it's not okay to have or
feel or express them. I learned to
decide what is true for me, today, about
feelings. I also worked through my
codependency issues and learned how to
communicate feelings in an appropriate,
effective and loving way.
Now feelings are a part of my life and
not something overwhelming and
incapacitating. In fact, they have
become something beautiful that enrich
my life and give it color and texture
and even pleasure.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I honor the blessing of having my
feelings returned to me. I enjoy them,
and I respect my feelings and those of
others. I thank my Higher Power for this
wonderful gift.
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Few are those who see with their own
eyes and feel with their own hearts.
Albert Einstein
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Before working the Twelve Step program,
one reason I used to overeat was that I
couldn't manage my feelings. My feelings
were overwhelming and incapacitating to
me. I would also overreact to feelings
and this would make them truly more than
I could handle. So I would then overeat
to make the feelings stop. I would stuff
myself, to stuff them down!
In working the Twelve Step program, I
got a chance to work through past hurts
and resentments that intensified my
feelings. I learned to feel my feelings,
just as they are, and how to stop
overreacting to them. I learned to sort
through messages my family gave me about
feelings, that it's not okay to have or
feel or express them. I learned to
decide what is true for me, today, about
feelings. I also worked through my
codependency issues and learned how to
communicate feelings in an appropriate,
effective and loving way.
Now feelings are a part of my life and
not something overwhelming and
incapacitating. In fact, they have
become something beautiful that enrich
my life and give it color and texture
and even pleasure.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I honor the blessing of having my
feelings returned to me. I enjoy them,
and I respect my feelings and those of
others. I thank my Higher Power for this
wonderful gift.
Recovery Meditations ~ Willingness ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 8, 2011
~ WILLINGNESS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I cannot change what I am unwilling to face.
James Baldwin
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Before I found this program I was locked
in a battle with myself. I knew I was
eating too much, and I couldn't help
myself. I tried to control my eating,
and for a while, I was able to keep the
upper hand. Then something would happen
in my life, and I'd lose that control.
I couldn't face the fact that I was a
compulsive eater. I couldn't bear to
think that I had a disease that kept me
in bondage to food. So during the time I
was in denial about my eating, I
continued sinking deeper into my disease
of compulsion. I sought comfort in food,
and did some serious damage to my body,
to my self- esteem, and to my
relationships.
It was only after I hit bottom that I
realized that I had to face the facts. I
had a disease that had me in a death
grip, and there wasn't one thing I could
do about it. When I found this program,
I found hope. I discovered a Higher
Power who could help me do what I'd
never been able to do before. I slowly
began to see the changes I'd tried all
my life to effect on my own. But it
didn't happen until I became willing to
face the truth, until I became willing
to ask God for help.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I am willing to face my disease and let my Higher Power help me overcome it.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I cannot change what I am unwilling to face.
James Baldwin
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Before I found this program I was locked
in a battle with myself. I knew I was
eating too much, and I couldn't help
myself. I tried to control my eating,
and for a while, I was able to keep the
upper hand. Then something would happen
in my life, and I'd lose that control.
I couldn't face the fact that I was a
compulsive eater. I couldn't bear to
think that I had a disease that kept me
in bondage to food. So during the time I
was in denial about my eating, I
continued sinking deeper into my disease
of compulsion. I sought comfort in food,
and did some serious damage to my body,
to my self- esteem, and to my
relationships.
It was only after I hit bottom that I
realized that I had to face the facts. I
had a disease that had me in a death
grip, and there wasn't one thing I could
do about it. When I found this program,
I found hope. I discovered a Higher
Power who could help me do what I'd
never been able to do before. I slowly
began to see the changes I'd tried all
my life to effect on my own. But it
didn't happen until I became willing to
face the truth, until I became willing
to ask God for help.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I am willing to face my disease and let my Higher Power help me overcome it.
Recovery Meditations ~ Higher Power ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 7, 2011
~ HIGHER POWER ~
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
If you spend all your time looking for
Him, you might miss Her when She shows
up.
Neale Donald Walsch
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Our program of recovery teaches us that
we each must lean on a Higher
Power. This Higher Power is also known
as "the God of my understanding." There
is nothing in this Twelve Step program
of ours that says that my Higher Power
must be the same as your Higher
Power. For some, the Higher Power in
their life is a deity. The program
itself, or a weekly meeting, might be
the Higher Power for someone else. It
doesn't matter what or who each person
has for a Higher Power.
Recovery is possible for everyone. Those
who believe in one God can come together
with those who believe in many Gods, or
maybe no God at all. The atheist has
just as much chance of recovery as a
very religious person. The beauty of
this program is that it works for
everybody, regardless of their approach
to the spiritual aspect. That is why it
is imperative that we accept each
other's ideas of a Higher Power. What
works for one individual might not work
for another. But one thing is sure
... the program that works if you work
it, regardless of which Higher Power you
decide on.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
I will work my program with my Higher
Power, the God of my understanding, and
allow others to work their program with
the God of their understanding.
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
If you spend all your time looking for
Him, you might miss Her when She shows
up.
Neale Donald Walsch
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Our program of recovery teaches us that
we each must lean on a Higher
Power. This Higher Power is also known
as "the God of my understanding." There
is nothing in this Twelve Step program
of ours that says that my Higher Power
must be the same as your Higher
Power. For some, the Higher Power in
their life is a deity. The program
itself, or a weekly meeting, might be
the Higher Power for someone else. It
doesn't matter what or who each person
has for a Higher Power.
Recovery is possible for everyone. Those
who believe in one God can come together
with those who believe in many Gods, or
maybe no God at all. The atheist has
just as much chance of recovery as a
very religious person. The beauty of
this program is that it works for
everybody, regardless of their approach
to the spiritual aspect. That is why it
is imperative that we accept each
other's ideas of a Higher Power. What
works for one individual might not work
for another. But one thing is sure
... the program that works if you work
it, regardless of which Higher Power you
decide on.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
I will work my program with my Higher
Power, the God of my understanding, and
allow others to work their program with
the God of their understanding.
Recovery Meditations ~ Courage ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 6, 2011
~ COURAGE ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.
Erma Bombeck
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I remember first starting my Twelve Step
program. I had lots of expectations and
dreams, but I couldn't talk to anyone
about them. I thought my dreams were
stupid and that nobody there really
cared about who I was or what I wanted
to achieve.
This is a big problem with all of us
compulsive overeaters. We all have hopes
and dreams of losing our impulse to eat
all the time, and of losing our excess
weight. Thinking we're not worth
anyone's time keeps us strong in our
addiction.
As we work through the Steps and learn
to trust our new family of choice, we
get the courage to begin to open up and
share our dreams and hopes. We all find
our hidden courage by praying and
trusting our Higher Power. We find the
courage to tell people about ourselves
and trust that nobody will put us down
for our past or for the future we dream
of achieving. Our dreams have no time
limit; they don't have to happen
immediately. They may happen
immediately, or it may take a long time
of struggling, but as long as we have
hope and courage, they will become a
reality in Higher Power's time.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I remember that we learn that, together, things become much easier. As we share our experience, strength and dreams with others, they will help us learn how we can work with a special program and plan. With Higher Power and our recovery friends, our courage grows stronger, and we find we can and will succeed.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.
Erma Bombeck
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I remember first starting my Twelve Step
program. I had lots of expectations and
dreams, but I couldn't talk to anyone
about them. I thought my dreams were
stupid and that nobody there really
cared about who I was or what I wanted
to achieve.
This is a big problem with all of us
compulsive overeaters. We all have hopes
and dreams of losing our impulse to eat
all the time, and of losing our excess
weight. Thinking we're not worth
anyone's time keeps us strong in our
addiction.
As we work through the Steps and learn
to trust our new family of choice, we
get the courage to begin to open up and
share our dreams and hopes. We all find
our hidden courage by praying and
trusting our Higher Power. We find the
courage to tell people about ourselves
and trust that nobody will put us down
for our past or for the future we dream
of achieving. Our dreams have no time
limit; they don't have to happen
immediately. They may happen
immediately, or it may take a long time
of struggling, but as long as we have
hope and courage, they will become a
reality in Higher Power's time.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I remember that we learn that, together, things become much easier. As we share our experience, strength and dreams with others, they will help us learn how we can work with a special program and plan. With Higher Power and our recovery friends, our courage grows stronger, and we find we can and will succeed.
Recovery Meditations ~ Courage ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 5, 2011
~ COURAGE ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I've never been a brave person and was
always very fearful. I would watch movies
where the hero would rescue the heroine,
or where someone would climb Mount
Everest, or perform some feat of daring,
and I would be totally in awe. I was afraid
of the dark, of rejection, of failure and of
most other things that I was convinced
took courage. No way would I go parasailing
or deep sea diving as that seemed to require
the courage that I lacked. I didn't understand
then that people who do those kinds of
things are not totally without fear, but they
have a way of overcoming their fear and still
doing it anyway.
When I came into the program and learned
that I would have to do an inventory and then,
worse still, make amends to the people I
had harmed, I was paralyzed by fear.
Eventually I realized that, even though I
feared doing these things, all I had to do
was ask my Higher Power for strength and
guidance and then do the things I'd most
feared. Perhaps these weren't the feats of
daring that I had seen heroes perform, but
for me they were great victories, and in being
able to do them, I knew that I was developing
courage.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
I will continue to walk through my fear with my Higher Power at my side, knowing that I am developing the courage that I thought I lacked.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I've never been a brave person and was
always very fearful. I would watch movies
where the hero would rescue the heroine,
or where someone would climb Mount
Everest, or perform some feat of daring,
and I would be totally in awe. I was afraid
of the dark, of rejection, of failure and of
most other things that I was convinced
took courage. No way would I go parasailing
or deep sea diving as that seemed to require
the courage that I lacked. I didn't understand
then that people who do those kinds of
things are not totally without fear, but they
have a way of overcoming their fear and still
doing it anyway.
When I came into the program and learned
that I would have to do an inventory and then,
worse still, make amends to the people I
had harmed, I was paralyzed by fear.
Eventually I realized that, even though I
feared doing these things, all I had to do
was ask my Higher Power for strength and
guidance and then do the things I'd most
feared. Perhaps these weren't the feats of
daring that I had seen heroes perform, but
for me they were great victories, and in being
able to do them, I knew that I was developing
courage.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
I will continue to walk through my fear with my Higher Power at my side, knowing that I am developing the courage that I thought I lacked.
Recovery Meditations ~ Commitment ~ One Day at a Time ~ April 4, 2011
~ COMMITMENT ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Shallow men believe in luck ~
Strong men believe in cause and effect.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Abstinence did not happen for me until I
made a commitment to it. I realized that
I would have abstinence until something
was a bit too uncomfortable for me to face
or feel. Then I would have a slip. So it
became a game for me. Was this event
or circumstance enough to justify another
slip? Sure, why not? That's the nature of
the disease. Everything and anything was
an excuse to eat.
It wasn't until I made a commitment to
abstinence that I was forced to find my
solutions in the Twelve Steps and really
let go of my addiction. I'm grateful to my
Higher Power that I hit the bottom I did.
By accepting the truth about myself and
my food addiction, I am now free to live in
the solution.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
I will renew my commitment by receiving the gift of abstinence and practicing my program to the best of my ability.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Shallow men believe in luck ~
Strong men believe in cause and effect.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Abstinence did not happen for me until I
made a commitment to it. I realized that
I would have abstinence until something
was a bit too uncomfortable for me to face
or feel. Then I would have a slip. So it
became a game for me. Was this event
or circumstance enough to justify another
slip? Sure, why not? That's the nature of
the disease. Everything and anything was
an excuse to eat.
It wasn't until I made a commitment to
abstinence that I was forced to find my
solutions in the Twelve Steps and really
let go of my addiction. I'm grateful to my
Higher Power that I hit the bottom I did.
By accepting the truth about myself and
my food addiction, I am now free to live in
the solution.
ONE DAY AT A TIME ...
I will renew my commitment by receiving the gift of abstinence and practicing my program to the best of my ability.
Recovery Meditations ~ The Past ~ One Day at a Time ~ May 5, 2011
~ THE PAST ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Even God cannot change the past.
Agathon, ancient Greek poet
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Each day of recovery, I ask my Higher
Power to help me stay focused on
today. Although there are things I would
like to change about the past, I know
that it is not possible. I’ve let myself
fall into traps, thinking "If only I had
done..." or "If only I’d said..." When I
think this way, I find myself wasting a
lot of time and feeling bad. This
doesn’t seem like healthy recovery
thinking. If amends need to be made,
then I make them. If not, then I let go
of the past.
Worrying about the past is not
productive. Regret will not fix
anything. It will merely keep me from
concentrating my efforts on where they
belong ... on the present moment.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will stay focused on what is going on around me and leave the past in the past.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Even God cannot change the past.
Agathon, ancient Greek poet
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Each day of recovery, I ask my Higher
Power to help me stay focused on
today. Although there are things I would
like to change about the past, I know
that it is not possible. I’ve let myself
fall into traps, thinking "If only I had
done..." or "If only I’d said..." When I
think this way, I find myself wasting a
lot of time and feeling bad. This
doesn’t seem like healthy recovery
thinking. If amends need to be made,
then I make them. If not, then I let go
of the past.
Worrying about the past is not
productive. Regret will not fix
anything. It will merely keep me from
concentrating my efforts on where they
belong ... on the present moment.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will stay focused on what is going on around me and leave the past in the past.
Recovery Meditations ~ April 1, 2011
~ AGING ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Those who love deeply never grow old;
they may die of old age, but they die young.
Benjamin Franklin
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I used to be afraid of getting older. I was also afraid to become friends with older people, because I would come to love them and then they would die. I could not handle unpleasant feelings (other than if I overate to stop feeling them) because the feeling of unpleasantness would totally devastate me.
In working the Twelve Step program, my Higher Power has brought me great recovery in this area ... I am now able to handle the grief and sorrow that come up when I allow myself to get to know and love older people and then they die. I am now free in this area! I get to enjoy the wisdom and beauty that they
have to share, from all their life experiences, and from the beautiful people they are!
Another beautiful gift from my Higher Power came when I started relating to older people again. When the first one died, it really threw me, and I was very sad. But I got up the next day and had a great spiritual awakening: this person was missing and that was sad, but I looked around and saw all the other wonderful people still there in my life, with whom I got to share another day! Life suddenly became much more precious
to me ... to have one more day to be with and share with someone who touches my soul!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I enjoy myself as I become older. I allow myself to enjoy friendships with those who are older than me. I thank my Higher Power for every day and every moment of precious life!
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
Those who love deeply never grow old;
they may die of old age, but they die young.
Benjamin Franklin
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
I used to be afraid of getting older. I was also afraid to become friends with older people, because I would come to love them and then they would die. I could not handle unpleasant feelings (other than if I overate to stop feeling them) because the feeling of unpleasantness would totally devastate me.
In working the Twelve Step program, my Higher Power has brought me great recovery in this area ... I am now able to handle the grief and sorrow that come up when I allow myself to get to know and love older people and then they die. I am now free in this area! I get to enjoy the wisdom and beauty that they
have to share, from all their life experiences, and from the beautiful people they are!
Another beautiful gift from my Higher Power came when I started relating to older people again. When the first one died, it really threw me, and I was very sad. But I got up the next day and had a great spiritual awakening: this person was missing and that was sad, but I looked around and saw all the other wonderful people still there in my life, with whom I got to share another day! Life suddenly became much more precious
to me ... to have one more day to be with and share with someone who touches my soul!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I enjoy myself as I become older. I allow myself to enjoy friendships with those who are older than me. I thank my Higher Power for every day and every moment of precious life!
Recovery Meditations ~ Words ~ One Day At A Time ~ March 31, 2011
~ WORDS ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
"Handle them carefully ...
for words have more power than atom bombs."
Pearl Strachan Hurd
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
A friend wrote to me tonight about the
"healing power of words" I began to
think about that and she was
right. Words can truly heal. I thought
back to times in my life when the right
word at the right time by the right
person made an enormous difference in my
life. I also thought of the times when
words devastated me.
Many times I get busy and don't think
about what I'm going to say and words
come out and in my "busyness" of the
moment, I don't realize they could have
a double meaning. It is afterwards
... many times days afterwards .... that
I realize my choice of words were
inappropriate. We speak and listen to
tens of millions of words in our
lifetime and, perhaps, we need to weigh
the words we use more carefully. I hope,
however, that I don't ever find myself
saying words to others I don't mean or
out of fear restrict words that need to
be said.
Although this British politician of the
1930s, Pearl Strachan Hurd, said that
words have more power than atom bombs,
there is something that I find even more
powerful. Silence. Silence when there
should be words can hurt. Silence when
someone should have the courage to speak
harms. I tend to think of silence as the
ultimate insult. And yet some of the
most beautiful words ever spoken to me
were the silent ones.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
let me choose my words carefully but not so carefully that I become calous. Let me use words to heal and not hurt; to make things better and not worse; to express feelings, even negative feelings to and about others, kindly ... courageously ... carefully.
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
"Handle them carefully ...
for words have more power than atom bombs."
Pearl Strachan Hurd
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:
A friend wrote to me tonight about the
"healing power of words" I began to
think about that and she was
right. Words can truly heal. I thought
back to times in my life when the right
word at the right time by the right
person made an enormous difference in my
life. I also thought of the times when
words devastated me.
Many times I get busy and don't think
about what I'm going to say and words
come out and in my "busyness" of the
moment, I don't realize they could have
a double meaning. It is afterwards
... many times days afterwards .... that
I realize my choice of words were
inappropriate. We speak and listen to
tens of millions of words in our
lifetime and, perhaps, we need to weigh
the words we use more carefully. I hope,
however, that I don't ever find myself
saying words to others I don't mean or
out of fear restrict words that need to
be said.
Although this British politician of the
1930s, Pearl Strachan Hurd, said that
words have more power than atom bombs,
there is something that I find even more
powerful. Silence. Silence when there
should be words can hurt. Silence when
someone should have the courage to speak
harms. I tend to think of silence as the
ultimate insult. And yet some of the
most beautiful words ever spoken to me
were the silent ones.
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
let me choose my words carefully but not so carefully that I become calous. Let me use words to heal and not hurt; to make things better and not worse; to express feelings, even negative feelings to and about others, kindly ... courageously ... carefully.
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