You are enough, just as you are. This moment is enough, just as it is. ~Ralph Marston
My silver 4 year chip given to me by my beloved Boston.
Welcome to everyone coming over from Blogs of Note. I am grateful to have been included in the midst of such fine blogs. And thanks to everyone that leaves comments.
I am grateful for the experience of cultivating gratitude in my daily life. It is life affirming. It also lets me open up to acceptance that I am taken care of daily if I just do what is suggested, give thanks for being shown the next loving thing to do and the courage to do it.
Yesterday at Lambda Center was such a joy. To sit with 250+ other alcoholics and their loved ones puts things into perspective. Hearing RB tell about his mother putting his brother in rehab so she could go on a cruise and not have to worry about him, only to return to find he had left rehab, bought a lot of pills and found him overdosed in a motel room dead--that certainly tells the story of how addiction kills.
I got to say hello and welcome to the little woman that waited on me at Texas Art Supply Wednesday. She picked up her 60 day chip and was so happy to be there for the first time.
Today I have freedom of choice. There are no restrictions on how much happiness I allow myself today. So I will go to the noon meeting at Lambda to support anyone that isn't at Round Up. Grab some lunch, then come home for a luxury nap. Ahhhhhh.
My day of Thanksgiving culminated with the traditional meal at J and R's, then John Waters' lecture This Filthy World. And a brief phone call to sister So. I got to spend time with all my family--my family at AA, my extended family here and my nuclear family in KY.
Oh, and how grateful am I to not need retail therapy today.
One Sunday in October, during my morning meditation, I glanced out the window at the ash tree in our front yard. At once I was overwhelmed by its magnificent, golden color! As I stared in awe at God's work of art, the leaves began to fall and, within minutes, the branches were bare. Sadness came over me as I thought of the winter months ahead, but just as I was reflecting on autumn's annual process, God's message came through. Like the trees, stripped of their leaves in the fall, sprout new blossoms in the spring, I had had my compulsive, selfish ways removed by God in order for me to blossom into a sober, joyful member of A.A. Thank you, God, for the changing seasons and for my ever-changing life. ~Daily Reflections
28 comments:
Keeping my expectations reasonable, feeling truly grateful for simple things, and fellowship with others provided me with more than I needed yesterday. Also, helping myself to plenty of prayer and meditation instead of extra servings from the groaning board. I'm glad you had a great day, too, you wonderful being!
Congrats on picking up Number 4! And, congrats on making it to the "Blogs of Note"...that is how found your site.
As one of the wiser members of my group says to anyone - regardless of how much time they have: "That is a critical time in sobriety."
Yesterday, I had many of the same feelings as you expressed - and was glad to be able to share those sentiments with a roomful of people whom I have grown to love over the years.
While I think gratitude is an important tool, something that we are responsible for trying to foster (when it isn't naturally present), I just need the constant reminder from other members that feeling grateful is nice - and is a sign that I am living in reality. (Because in truth, it's all gravy at this point: I should have been dead or asylum-crazy long ago.)
But the important thing about gratitude is that - even if I am not feeling it - I am responsible for living gratefully...acting as if I am grateful. That it is only important if my actions demonstrate that attitude of gratitude.
I know I am not saying anything we don't already know: I just liked your post, and appreciate the reminder that it gave me.
Thanks,
CM
Dear Scott,
I am new to blogging. Noticed your wonderful blog because of the Blogs of Note tag. Your comment about noticing the trees struck a note of recognition with me because you are the third person I have encountered this month who has commented on how much more they have noticed the beauty of trees since surrendering their lives to God. It is so beautiful to see with eyes that have been unclouded.
I am happy for you that you have been sober for so long. I have a brother who is a drug addict. His addiction has put my mother and myself on a path that we often wish we could get off. He is in and out of rehab. However, I don't believe he ever fully surrenders. I had a dream two nights ago where this crazy man with crazy eyes (definitely my brother) tells me that I don't have to worry anymore, that he's been "eliminated" and it's time to start over. I am hoping that the entity that's been eliminated is the spirit of addiction that constantly vexes him, and not my brother physically. However, the dream also had a significant warning that I should separate myself from him because of the threat he is to me. I was recently robbed, and felt strongly that it was my brother who did it. Then yesterday at our Thanksgiving dinner, I caught him checking out details of my back door.
Love your artwork. You are truly gifted. God Bless You deeply.
I'm loving this quote! Thank you for loving it and sharing it! Congrats for being a blog of note!
I found your blog from "Blogs of Note" and am so glad that I did.
Let me first congratulate you on your sobriety, and you achievement.
This touches me so because this year my father, a lifetime alcoholic, ater trying to kill himself and then because God intervened and saved him that day, he went into treatment. Ha has earned his 6 months and going strong. My father is a new man, and I cherish every minute with him now just as much if not more than I use to. I can see a future for him now....a year ago I didn't think I could, if that makes sense.
Stay strong!!!!
I have just rounded one year and most days feel incredibly grateful. On the harder days I find I discover little miracles like your blog. Thank you.
Congrats on being a Blog of Note!
I, too, have a gratitude blog. I'm coming close to a year of blogging my gratitude. It's nice to read others postings regarding simple gratitude.
Thank you for sharing!
~Linda
Hello from Spain. I liked your blog. If you want to visit my blog http: // caldelaodecaldelas.blogspot.com
I'm a visitor from Blogs of Note and happy to discover your page. I'm the Director of a National Network of Substance Abuse Professionals here in Canada, have a brother in recovery, and found your blog to be highly inspirational. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
What a great way to keep stay consciously appreciative! Thank you for adding your positive spirit to the blogosphere.
Beautiful and just what I needed at the moment. Thank you.
congrate on picking up num 4!! im new to blogging but reading your blog made me realise a lot of things so thank you.
Congrats on 4 years! Found you through "Blogs of Note" and I'm so glad!
My old sponsor used to say (no matter what the anniversary) "Now the REAL work begins!" So true!
Let me say that 4 years is a long time without a drink for a drunk. Keep on trudgin'!
What a nice job you did of telling people who you are. Glad to know you Scott.
Buddha said "Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others." Congratulations.
scott, this post is beautiful i love the bonus entries in which you share/reveal more about yourself.
you are a lovely man and your words fill me with peace.
hi, i wanted to tell you that your blog has some amazing insights, in fact i say thank you sever times a day and my life has become beautiful. Do chk my blog with similar abstract thoughts, its called p-light.
prerna
Your blog is interesting. You may find the information on my blog helpful. It is designed to provide answers to important aspects of driving and maintaining older vehicles. I have helped readers to save money through the knowledge gained my posts. Knowledge is Power. Even if my blog os not for you us bloggers should support each other. We all have to eat, Thanks
I had had my compulsive, selfish ways removed by God
That’s a truly excellent thing to be grateful for, since it’s often the most destructive part of ourselves & also what we’re most addicted to.
BON referee, too... have a great life... (-:
What a wonderful reason for a blog. I try to stay grateful, too. I'll be back!
Congrats on your four years! How great ~ the Blogs of Note is just some icing on that cake boyfriend!
Love and really big celebration hugs :)
Gwen
Dear Scott,
I am so touched about Robert's Mom and Robert and the struggles they have both gone through for so many years !
Bless that young man's Soul and of course, Bless Robert and his mother. It could have gone either way, I guess.
What a shame it went the way it did.
I am so pleased that Robert has us as family to share his grief and pain with.
I love you Scott, me
Hey Scott. Just found you on Blogs of Note. Great attitude! Winter trees: I was sitting on a cafe terrace a few weeks ago, and all the trees that had been so full of green last time I was there had turned orange and red. The people at a nearby table laughed out loud, startling the birds in the tree above them. Al the birds - about 10 of them - flew up in the air in such a rush that they shook all the remaining leaves off the tree, and the people at the table were showered in red and orange confetti. It was so funny!
I love bare winter trees for their sculptural quality. I love the way they reveal the city rooftops and skylines they've hidden all summer, and frame the sun and the moon. I like autumn pods and berries, secret birdsnests that I'd suspected were there during the summer, but could never see: I love the ramshackle energy, the determined optimism, of birdsnests, because they look as if they absolutely shouldn't work -but they damn well do, and never mind the laws of physics!
Congratulations to you on every day.
you are an inspiration.
I'm not an alcoholic nor do I have any close relationships with alcoholics that would warrant me attending those AA meetings.....but I wish I could go to them anyway. Anything to be transformed as you have been, to have a greater "attitude of gratitude."
Found you through "Blogs of Note"!
The silver ones are the best! If you're always HOW then you're golden. :P
You are such a miracle!!!! Congrats to you and God :) If it weren't for spiritual leaders as yourself many alcoholics such as myself would be stuck in a hopeless state of mind. What a joy to see you reach this point in your recovery. This is what it is all about, seeing such moments as this. Thank you!
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