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๐Ÿ”ฉ if it is not ๐Ÿ”ฉ

Posted: Sat, Dec 9, 2023 02:05:00 PM

practical, it is not spiritual. this is one of those bumper sticker sayings that i actually find instructive and integrate into my life. the practical part of recovery, certainly leads to the spiritual part and among the things i find practical is the admission, on a daily basis, that i am powerless over the part of me i call addiction. reiterating something from yesterday, i am also powerless over all manifestations of addiction, in my friend, peers, acquaintances, and my family members, although they are a whole other egg to crack open on another day. today, i can focus on what i am feeling and allowing myself to be powerless over those feelings.
today, just happens to be the anniversary of the successful suicide attempt of a friend and sponsee, who could not get past the shame of what others were thinking of him and he could not remember. Miss you Brian i did manifest a bit of survivor's remorse about not being able to prevent that even from happening, but this image was the last text he sent me and knowing the approximate time of his demise, it was probably close to the last thing he did, before ending his suffering. the sadness and darkness i feel today will pass, and i no longer allow myself to play a victim of his decision, as i know it had nothing to do with me living a life in the shadow of those who have passed or left my life in other ways, is disrespectful of me and certainly far from practical to bring this little diversion back around.
when all is said and done, i am okay today and believe that i am on the correct path. whether or not i do the absolute “best” that i can or not, is not relevant. i have to be satisfied that what i did accomplish was within my power to do so and that i lack the power to save anyone from themselves. heck, i cannot even save myself, so i think i will shuffle off to the mailbox to fetch what may or may not be there and be okay knowing that just for today, i am living the best possible life that i can.

∞ DT ∞


Another Look

This day in older entries

๐Ÿ“š i learned ๐Ÿ“š
542 words ➥ Tuesday, December 9, 2025 by donnot
๐Ÿฅ‡ doing the best i can ๐Ÿฅ‡
339 words ➥ Monday, December 9, 2024 by donnot
๐Ÿ™‰ the ability ๐Ÿ™‰
550 words ➥ Friday, December 9, 2022 by donnot
โ€” really listening โ€”
405 words ➥ Thursday, December 9, 2021 by donnot
๐Ÿ‘‚ the ability to listen ๐Ÿ‘‚
481 words ➥ Wednesday, December 9, 2020 by donnot
๐Ÿฅด purple dragons, ๐Ÿฆ„
472 words ➥ Monday, December 9, 2019 by donnot
๐Ÿ•ฌ seeking greater freedom ๐Ÿ•ช
500 words ➥ Sunday, December 9, 2018 by donnot
๐Ÿ—จ talking about ๐Ÿฒ
502 words ➥ Saturday, December 9, 2017 by donnot
๐ŸŒŠ speeches prepared ๐Ÿ€
552 words ➥ Friday, December 9, 2016 by donnot
โ˜พ listening โ˜ฝ
746 words ➥ Wednesday, December 9, 2015 by donnot
โ‰ก my answers have nothing to do โ‰ก
388 words ➥ Tuesday, December 9, 2014 by donnot
โ„œ at times, i may find that โ„œ
698 words ➥ Sunday, December 9, 2012 by donnot
โ€” the ability to listen is a gift and grows as i grow spiritually โ€”
710 words ➥ Thursday, December 9, 2010 by donnot
โ‰ก learning how to listen **really listen** โ‰ก
491 words ➥ Wednesday, December 9, 2009 by donnot
ฮด in conversation, i may suddenly realize that โ€ฆ
453 words ➥ Tuesday, December 9, 2008 by donnot
โˆž i sometimes encounter communication problems โˆž
415 words ➥ Sunday, December 9, 2007 by donnot
ฮฑ my ever speaking mind ฯ‰
253 words ➥ Friday, December 9, 2005 by donnot
โˆž listening โˆž
201 words ➥ Thursday, December 9, 2004 by donnot

Tao Te Ching

☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

The Tao Teh King, or The Tao and Its Characteristics
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 2

1) What (Tao's) skilful planter plants
Can never be uptorn;
What his skilful arms enfold,
From him can ne'er be borne.
Sons shall bring in lengthening line,
Sacrifices to his shrine.