People living in one day at a time recovery learn to recognize when we have harmful conversations. This can happen when our dialogues are critical and scornful of others. These are scathing conversations. These conversations can promote ill will towards others. Perhaps, at times, there appears to be good reasons for such conversations, and we understand the reasoning behind them. Most of us are not saints, and if someone has done us wrong it could be the reason we are caught up in such conversations. We realize this and we are probably just venting, but should such dialogues snowball and start to pick up other scornful people, it could harm others. And what if the harm that was done to us was imaginary or very minor? And what if we are dehumanizing another person? No good could become of this. When the reality of our venting to another person is between two people of principled integrity, we are getting something off our chest. Our reality is we need to be heard. If we are scapegoating and dehumanizing people, we can hurt them. Especially if we get others to jump on the bandwagon. Most of us stop before this happens. Peace.
Some people living life one day at a time find life difficult when others tell us life is about being happy, joyous, and free. The difficulty is we at times are anxious and depressed, and we feel left out. Especially when we hear statements like it’s all in our heads, or that doctors really don’t know what they are doing. Some of us have learned to take this advice with a grain of salt. Many of us have received a tremendous amount of help from doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. They know what they are talking about. We know that while we are anxious and depressed it can be hard to be happy, joyous, and free. A few of us have decided to be reasonable, and reasonably happy people. As treatment for anxiety and depression takes hold for us we realize there is nothing wrong with being reasonable, and reasonably happy people. Many people who are living healthy and productive lives think the same way. Some days we need to think this way just to put the days in. We feel the reasonable and real happiness. We also discover we experience times of what others called happy, joyous, and free. And when we realize this we are doing just fine. Some people think we have set the bar low living reasonable and reasonably happy lives. We haven’t. And we cope this way because it works. One day at a time we know we are good. Peace.
Many people living life one day at a time know when reality is too difficult. We might try to solve challenging situations buy ourselves, but reality beats the hell out of us and we know that we need help. People who are very strong and wise have taught us this. Reaching out for help from professionals, family members, and friends doesn’t need to be a humiliating experience. We all need help at one time or another. People are not built to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders forever. If it’s too difficult we reach out. Be it depression, anxiety, addictions, or other health issues, we reach out to health professionals. If we have other difficulties we reach out to the appropriate people and agencies that can help. We will be required to follow direction. It’s reality. Once again, we all need help. It lessens the load. Peace.
Living in one day at a time recovery helps us to better deal with anxiety. Planned or unplanned tasks or events can make us anxious because we feel unprepared, and afraid to face them. This is a reality for most people. The reality of anxiety is we can learn to cope with it. For some of us it begins with taking a breath and calming ourselves. We breathe deeply and relax. Those of us who live with manageable anxiety have learned to do so. We might also use centering prayer, or meditation. Some of us use exercise, or do things with our hands like knitting or wood-working. Some of us listen to music, or make music ourselves. And some of us write. Please remember we are people living in one day at at time recovery, and we live with manageable anxiety. When we know this we do better dealing with the stressors that are causing our anxiety. We no longer ruminate about our fears and seek solutions. Some of us need medication. We consult a physician about this. These are some of the tools that can help us deal with anxiety. We practice them often. And we reach out. Peace.
People who live life one day at a time know the importance of adaptation to life and change. We need to understand a constant continuance of unhealthy life skills hinder our growth. In such we find change difficult, and at times life unfulfilling. We might even become angry about this. We need understand that it is possible to forgive ourselves, others, and the institution of life for change. Although it might be difficult, this forgiveness is important. As good as sentimentality can be, it can keep us from living in the real world. It keeps us from enjoying the present. Life has always had its difficulties, and we have always needed to adapt to change. It is why many people live life one day at a time. It helps us. Let us be open to change and the joy. Let us trust life, God, the Spirit, or the Universe. Peace.
Many people living life one day at a time are just hoping for grace. Some of us walk the days and sleep the nights. Some of us walk the nights and sleep the days. Often we do so just hoping for grace. Our sins, short comings, and character defects make it so that we can discover grace. We are, or can be, the lonely, the tormented, the misguided, and the ill. Our addictions, and our obsessive wants make it so. Our broken attempts to be righteous have failed us many times. Our reality is that grace has given us the ability to be helpful and kind not only to our kin, but to others who might cross our paths. Grace often comes in disguise as service to others. It becomes a part of our nature. In this we understand the importance of hope, for hope makes us understand grace. Peace.
Some people who live life one day at a time can feel as though we are in a an elite group of people. It is natural for us to live with the delusion of being spiritually superior to others. This is a natural stage of growth and development. It is important that we have such delusions. Our one day at a time journey has a tendency to take many of us to this phase of life. What we begin to realize though is that we live with our errors, sins, character defects, and short comings. We adapt and we learn to make peace with it. We cannot overcome life. When we realize this we become a healthier part of belonging. We stop measuring our peace and the peace of others. We are all where we are supposed to be. When we can accept this we become less delusional and we understand the importance of experiencing the delusion of spiritual superiority. It made us a part of spiritual misfits who live life one day at a time. Our quest for joy and contentment is a simple life. It’s a life of humble endeavors. It’s our reality. Peace.
Many people living life one day at a time are climbing the hill to find peace of mind. Although the hill can seem real as real can be, reaching the hilltop more often than not is a momentary event, or a temporary peace. The idea is to be at peace with the climb. Living life one day at a time teaches us how to do this. We realize that if we feel we need to be at the hilltop in order to find peace, our climb is delusional and unfulfilling. Often we discover we will need to go back down the hill to help others. After being up and down the hill many times, we realize the hill is an illusion. Those who came down this imaginary hill to help us in our supposed climb taught us this. When we realize this we realize that we can travel a level, less travelled road that has many twists and turns. We learn our journeys have many joyful and beautiful moments on this road. The adversities we encounter will no longer be as difficult as they once were. Life isn’t perfect but in this we find peace. It’s our reality. Peace.
People who live in one day at a time recovery learn that we shall experience the hints of discovery. Our discoveries subtly lets us know we can become more accepting of our lives as they unfold for us. Often, when life becomes difficult, life is not bad for us. We simply accept what’s difficult as difficult. Once again, it isn’t bad for us. It just is what it is. Our discoveries had given us hints of this as time was passing by. It just takes time for us to recognize and understand these hints. The reality of the human condition is that time takes time. Perhaps with awareness and knowledge from these hints, we learn that we might better adapt to life’s difficulties and its woes. Maybe discovery’s hints are just grace, and maybe grace is just a God thing. We just needed to experience it. Peace.
People who live life one day at a time must learn how to accept constructive criticism and direction. As difficult as it may be, this is one of life’s realities. Constructive criticism and direction are not a put down or an attack on one’s person, or one’s being. They are not a biased judgement on one’s worth. They don’t question our ability. Very often people who are in the position to give us direction are doing so for a reason. Usually this direction helps. It is the same with constructive criticism. We must see past our own insecurities and our own biased judgements to understand. What we need to understand is that experience and learned knowledge makes another qualified to share their direction, and their constructive criticism with us. Most of the time we need it and it helps. Sometimes it just depends upon who is giving it. Peace