Often, people living in one day at a time recovery find moments of quiet happiness. This is finding peace in moments of silent joy. We do not have to smile, or do we have to laugh. We do not have to shout eureka. It is usually a contentment that happens either alone, or when we are with others that we love and trust. No words have to be spoke. As was said, no smiles have to occur. Quiet happiness often happens during moments when our worries are few, or forgotten. This is the reality of diminished, or manageable stress. We need to enjoy such times. These subtle moments of quiet happiness contribute to good health, and gift us with a positive appreciation for life. Breathe and enjoy. Peace.
Many people living in recovery discover that the continuation of gratitude more often than not occurs on a daily basis. It tends to occur for some people even before they have shaken the cobwebs out of their thoughts. It is a simple thank you often in appreciation for one more day. This usually coincides with the condition of our spiritual health as we face each new day as it comes. Who, or whatever we thank, is a personal decision. Also there are times of silent gratitude. These are times when we just seem to go with the flow. We are content and things are just plain going well. Perhaps, at these times, we don’t recognize that things are going well, but we pass along good will to other people. This is the nature of spiritually healthy people. Such people will even pass along good will for others even when things are not going all that well. This is another continuation of gratitude. Grateful people are a gift for others. Every once in while we can count our blessings. What we will realize is gratitude is a practice. Peace.
Many people have heard the words, “It is what it is”. These are words people use when they know that they have no power over a situation, a place, a person, or a group of people. “It is what it is” are words we might say after years of bondage, heartache, pain, and powerlessness. Can we change the unhealthy and harmful choices of another person? Not really. We know we can be supportive, and we might supply this person with many buffers and chances to change, but if this person cannot, or will not change their choices, what are we to do? Perhaps we work behind the scenes to try and help. Maybe we give chance after chance and forgive the harms that have be done to us, or others. Maybe we continue to love, hope and pray. Perhaps there comes a time we have to let go. Perhaps we have done every possible thing that was in our ability to try and help this person. Somehow we come to accept complete defeat. We pass no ill judgement realizing we are human. It’s not always painless. It just is what it is. In reality, we also might have to accept things about ourselves. Many recovering people accept the disorders they live with. Perhaps we need treatment and we must do what we have to do to be well. Perhaps we don’t want to, but we know we have to. Also to be healthy we need to live in the present. Some of us do this one day at a time, trying to hold no ill feelings against any other human being. Living this way is sometimes called radical acceptance. We have no choice. This also just is what it is. All of us are human. This is our saving grace.
Many people living in one day at a time recovery no longer choose to party on Friday night. When we no longer choose to party, we mean we choose to no longer use alcohol or pot. This is our one day at a time reality. What we must say is this is our reality, and we do not begrudge any others the merriment obtained from using alcohol or pot. Another reality is that alcohol and pot were no longer any fun for us. Nonetheless we can still have a good time. More often than not we choose to keep our wits about us. We find this of the utmost importance to us. For some of us, getting comfortable on Friday night means going to a movie. We can also get comfortable doing our laundry on a Friday night. To some people this sounds a bit feeble but we are doing well in our par-takings in life. We, like many people, can be happy, joyous and free. Maybe we’ve just settled down. Peace.
The hardwood floors do whisper tears
Of lover’s hope a tender touch
Cascading smiles erase my fears
Invoking passion within as such
And I a winter’s poet sigh
Oh lovely one are you are you
Ne’er to tire? No will I
Tell me love what must I do?
My vacant work a humble craft
A sentimental man am I
My words just words some think me daft
I love I love I love I try
And what have I to give to you
A hushed caress a gaze a wish
A warm embrace forever new
A want a prayer for happiness.
Christmas Season’s tidings start
The pleasant times bring living joys
Fashioned windows warming hearts
Anticipation’s lists for toys
Our family gathers friends will smile
Phones will ring and foods will cook
We’ll feel the world at peace a while
We read this love so oft’ in books.
And as you softly sleep tonight
I’ll think of you my vision’s dance
Perhaps an owl will take to flight
As snowmen laugh and reindeer prance
While in the morn my thoughts refreshed
Awakened gladness in my mind
So may this Christmas see you blessed
Our family, friends and all mankind.
What some people living with mental health disorders learn in life is that we need to find gratitude. What we now understand is if we have humility, gratitude is easier to find. When we are humble we realize we are people, just people, who very often have gotten the pointed end of the stick, but still live reasonable and happy lives. This is the resilience we find as being people, just people. We know pain and we know fear. We know the difficulties and adversities of life. Yet we respond to life with joy and courage. Also we enjoy our successes and our abilities. In and with our humility we are people who are worthy of love and life. When we are grateful, life and its moments can be more pleasant, pleasing, and enjoyable. This is the reality of people, just people, who have the humility to be grateful. Peace.
More often than not many creative people forget we are a part of creation. There are times in our lives that we pay no attention to the fact that we are living human beings who have desires to be heard, appreciated, and loved by other living human beings – but what we do learn is other human beings want to be heard, appreciated, and loved. Then there are times some of us, in our insecurities, crave this attention like an addict craves their escape. This happens when creative people forget that we are a part of creation. We cannot see that we are not alone in this world. We need to be a part of, not apart from. In our apart from we cannot hear, appreciate, or love others. This is not a put down; it is the nature of those who feel alone. Alone can be devastating at times. But if we become a part of, the aloneness will disperse, and we will see that we are heard, appreciated, and loved. We will even appreciate that others want to be heard, appreciated, and loved. We need remember we are a part of creation and not apart from creation. Life can be difficult. Creatives know this. And while creating we are a part of. Joy, pain, love and unrequited love are emotions human beings experience. We create because we need to be seen. Maybe – just maybe – we can help someone. We need remember this. Peace.
Many people are lacking the motivation to participate in festive activities this time of the year. This happens to people who are living with depression, and people living with other disorders that cause us to think deeply. We focus on lacking motivation and become lethargic and discontent. When this happens we often want the company of people who are not quite so festive who have only one thing in mind. A regular gathering with non-festive conversation without stress, or responsibility. Perhaps a coffee or something with no expectations of duty or holiday cheer. When we get this kind of a break perhaps we will realize it is okay to take a break. What would we say to others who are struggling? We would tell them if they needed someone to talk to, we would be there for them. We would tell them that we’d take a break with them if they wanted. And perhaps we would tell them we need the breaks too. Perhaps then the festive activities wouldn’t feel so cumbersome. Maybe then we would have goodwill to share with others. Maybe then we would realize when we are taking breaks we are sharing good will. We all need it. Especially those of us who struggle. Peace.
Often people find it difficult to accept that when we are struggling it doesn’t mean we are unhappy. We are told to count our blessings, and to change our way of thinking. Perhaps if we had some security, we would be able to do so. At times it seems like we are criticizing the whole world, but we are not. What people don’t understand is at times, our lives can be difficult. I know this next line might not make sense to some, but financial inequality, and poor social skills are disabling aspects of our lives. This is a reality for some people who are living with the cumbersome affects of a chronic mental illness. This is a reality that I call poverty of illness. We can step in and out of these emotional instabilities and modes of thinking. When this happens to us, and when you see us struggle, we ask that you be patient as we call deep on our courage to find the reality of being happy. What we often find is we need to find reasonable happiness, and also joy in the love you are deciding to share with us. When others learn to understand that we are grateful, and also that we feel the love and joys of life. We all need to be the givers of grace at some points in our lives. Gratitude and reasonable happiness are stepping stones to having happy, joyous, and free lives. Not always struggle free or worry free, but decent loving lives with good times and good health. We hope to share this with you. Peace.
Many people living one day at a time believe everyone should enjoy chocolates this time of the year. Chocolate is a delicacy that just wasn’t affordable for us. We afforded a stockpile of booze, but a box of chocolates simply cost too much. Besides, we’d rather drink and pretend we were merry as we spent our holidays in blackouts and broken promises which were we would pace ourselves, and we would make our stockpiles last. But with a quick built in forgetter we reminded ourselves what true heroes we really were. After all, we were hosting Christmas dinner. We had already purchased a large turkey, stuffing and all. And we even bought dessert. Pumpkin pie and cool whip. We even believed we had the right to be belligerent and insulting. We were only making merry. And then reality sat in and we realized what chocolates and good will were all about. Chocolates were our sober kindness and giving of ourselves with no expectations of anything in return. A pleasant embrace, a gentle smile and a calm, kind festive season were now a reality. We realized we were stepping up to the plate at Christmas. And in doing so we were having an enjoyable, peaceful holiday. When we realized this we wanted to extend our kindness, and if we could afford it, we gave a little to the foodbank or the charity that was hosting a Christmas dinner for those who were less fortunate. And now we know what chocolates are this time of the year. They’re kindness, compassion, and goodwill for everyone. I hope we all can enjoy them. Peace!