Reflection on Change and Living in the Present
The world is a wheel always turning. Those who are high go down low, and those who've been low go up higher.
--Anzia Yezierska
Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. And letting go of the way things are, anticipating instead what they might become, frees us to live each moment more fully.
Time marches on, and our destiny marches with it. There is purpose in how our lives unfold; the ups and downs serve our growth. We must neither resent the doldrums nor savor too long the elation. Giving too much attention to either state interferes with our awareness of the present. And the present has come to teach us.
We must move with time. We must focus our attention on the moment and accept whatever feelings each experience elicits. Emotional maturity is accepting our feelings and letting them go and facing instead the next moment with fresh receptivity. Our lessons are many, and they accompany the lows as well as the highs. We can be grateful for both.
The program has taught us freedom from lingering lows. It has given us the tools to move confidently forward, trusting that all is well. Nothing lasts forever, and within each struggle is the opportunity for real growth.
The highs will pass away, just as will the lows. They visit us purposefully. I will give them their freedom and find mine as well.
--Anzia Yezierska
Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. And letting go of the way things are, anticipating instead what they might become, frees us to live each moment more fully.
Time marches on, and our destiny marches with it. There is purpose in how our lives unfold; the ups and downs serve our growth. We must neither resent the doldrums nor savor too long the elation. Giving too much attention to either state interferes with our awareness of the present. And the present has come to teach us.
We must move with time. We must focus our attention on the moment and accept whatever feelings each experience elicits. Emotional maturity is accepting our feelings and letting them go and facing instead the next moment with fresh receptivity. Our lessons are many, and they accompany the lows as well as the highs. We can be grateful for both.
The program has taught us freedom from lingering lows. It has given us the tools to move confidently forward, trusting that all is well. Nothing lasts forever, and within each struggle is the opportunity for real growth.
The highs will pass away, just as will the lows. They visit us purposefully. I will give them their freedom and find mine as well.
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Oh, Laureen - this is so meaningful for my Mother right now & for me as well. I'm thinking of printing it out and sharing it with her today.
Although her memory is in the toilet, and her edges are somewhat blurred, there is a deeper intelligence that continues to shine thru. I think she would enjoy this. In fact, I think she already knows this and that it is I who needs this lesson so desperately. In my emotional turmoil, I'm thinking I should take up drinking to excess so I could join your recovery program. Can you share the name of the book this comes from?
With much appreciation & love,
Jan
Although her memory is in the toilet, and her edges are somewhat blurred, there is a deeper intelligence that continues to shine thru. I think she would enjoy this. In fact, I think she already knows this and that it is I who needs this lesson so desperately. In my emotional turmoil, I'm thinking I should take up drinking to excess so I could join your recovery program. Can you share the name of the book this comes from?
With much appreciation & love,
Jan
jan....drinking to join the group? i know you are jesting! isn't it wonderful how so many useful thoughts and ideals DO come from organized groups tho? i continue to keep the serenity prayer close to my heart and break down the parts as i need--- often "the wisdom to know the difference" hits me hard in the forehead!
what you are going thru with your mother is NOT something we were taught as children so -yes- this is all difficult for you!
hugs!
what you are going thru with your mother is NOT something we were taught as children so -yes- this is all difficult for you!
hugs!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White
Annette 
Jan,
You do not have to take up drinking to excess, it's really not much different from the eating we did in excess. . . an addiction is an addiction, just some are more readily accepted and seen as such. . . to be a sex or drug addict, to be an alcoholic, most often people hide their addictions well, is deemed to be morally defective, yet being obese, which is quite obvious, while not considered better, is not readily seen as addiction to many folks, mostly those who cannot accept it. Morally, many people see "obese people" as lazy, having/lacking control, what no one really understands is it is simply another "dis ease" , one based on compulsion and deep loneliness of the soul. . . I am simply grateful that being a recovering person, I was able to tap into something bigger than me, that helps me in any area of my life that needs some redirection. . .
Love you and I believe it came from a book called Each Day a New Beginning, which is a women's meditation book, but I'll let you know for sure. . . There are many meditation books in the Self Help area of any bookstore, but I get them randomly sent from a site I signed up for and they mostly seem to arrive at a time when the message in them seems tailored for something I am facing, what we in recovery refer to as, "There being no coincidences, just God remaining anonymous"
Hugs, Laureen
You do not have to take up drinking to excess, it's really not much different from the eating we did in excess. . . an addiction is an addiction, just some are more readily accepted and seen as such. . . to be a sex or drug addict, to be an alcoholic, most often people hide their addictions well, is deemed to be morally defective, yet being obese, which is quite obvious, while not considered better, is not readily seen as addiction to many folks, mostly those who cannot accept it. Morally, many people see "obese people" as lazy, having/lacking control, what no one really understands is it is simply another "dis ease" , one based on compulsion and deep loneliness of the soul. . . I am simply grateful that being a recovering person, I was able to tap into something bigger than me, that helps me in any area of my life that needs some redirection. . .
Love you and I believe it came from a book called Each Day a New Beginning, which is a women's meditation book, but I'll let you know for sure. . . There are many meditation books in the Self Help area of any bookstore, but I get them randomly sent from a site I signed up for and they mostly seem to arrive at a time when the message in them seems tailored for something I am facing, what we in recovery refer to as, "There being no coincidences, just God remaining anonymous"
Hugs, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
L---- oh my goodness! each day; you are in my head and my heart! i did a copy/paste so that i could print this out- 1 for me 1 for my journal and 1 for my own soon to be ex--he is having a worse time accepting change than i am.....and you know how my struggles go!
i am getting to a better place daily with friends family sistahs and OFF and my faith in my higher being!
please continue to post these wonderful threads!
hugs
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White
Connie,
Feelings are a part of the human experience, most often they are influenced by our surroundings, as well as our physical and mental state of being. I get through them most days by remembering to honor them, in other words owning that I feel a certain way, without trying to hold onto whatever it is I am feeling too tightly. Very simply, feelings are not always based on facts, but perceptions and/or messages instilled throughout the earlier experiences of life. It is a struggle still, but realizing that they will pass does help me get through the ones I really don't enjoy, like anger and sadness.
Hugs back to you. . .
Feelings are a part of the human experience, most often they are influenced by our surroundings, as well as our physical and mental state of being. I get through them most days by remembering to honor them, in other words owning that I feel a certain way, without trying to hold onto whatever it is I am feeling too tightly. Very simply, feelings are not always based on facts, but perceptions and/or messages instilled throughout the earlier experiences of life. It is a struggle still, but realizing that they will pass does help me get through the ones I really don't enjoy, like anger and sadness.
Hugs back to you. . .
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
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