02.03.07

Today I am grateful that yesterday I was shown how I have progressed in the program of AA. A series of events proved to be the most frustrating two hours of my sobriety. It's a long story and the events don't really matter, just suffice to say the frustration, at one point, seemed like it would never end. I was calm the entire time and towards the end, and knowing it eventually would end, I was able to find gratitude. I said to Randall how we had it a lot better in that particular situation than many others in this world do. I had to find some gratitude or else I would have been a mess. I found it and the anxiety would rise and I would use that gratitude to calm it. I couldn't make it calm the entire time, but I could use the knowledge that it, too, would pass. It did pass and at the end of it was a perfectly seared bacon wrapped filet mignon accompanied by broccoli in cheese sauce. At the time it all was so serious and today it seems so insignificant--other than showing me my own growth.

Perfectionism and its control over our lives stands seriously in the way of our growth and well-being, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Life's lessons come through failures probably more than successes. Through our failures we learn humility. We learn to look to others for help and guidance. We learn how to let others fail, too. We fail because we are human. ~from Each Day a New Beginning