Some memes

find what i have found is certainly one of the ways i can practice a bit of gratitude in my life today. i was going to start this off by speaking about the men i sponsor and changed my mind at the last minute. what they do or do not do is not really relevant to how i live my life in recovery. as i have told each and every one of them, more than once, “i am not going to use, if you do not work your steps.” i do not say that to be cruel, cold or uncaring, what i want them to realize is that i am here for them but i will not invest more into their program of recovery than they are willing to invest themselves. i have been there, done that and got the T-shirt. for me, sponsorship is all about sharing what i have and how i got what i have been given. it was not cheap, easy or without peril. in the long run, however it was worth it, at least in my not so humble opinion. 😎
the topic of the day was gratitude as a practice, rather than a feeling or a spiritual principle, which made me think, how do i practice gratitude. i certainly do not walk around assaying thanks for all the good that happens my way, as i walk through my day. i probably never will be that sort of person, i do however, applaud my peers who live in that sort of world. more than once, my cynicism has blinded me to the beauty of the events of the day. i do not believe that being cynical is a shortcoming or defect of character that i need to become ready to release. i do believe, however, that i can look at the world with w little less cynicism and still be who i am, at my core. to that end, seeing the world through a practice of gratitude, by sharing the “secrets of my success, ” with any who ask me to do just that. there really is no secret, i just took the suggestions i was given, once i started listening and applied them in a practical way to my life. learning to let go of what i think i may know was the key to learning how to live in the here and now.
my life is far from perfect, but i am actually grateful that i woke up on the correct side of the lawn this morning. as i trotted around the neighborhood, there was a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of being grateful i could do just that. there are many ways i could squander my health and fitness quite consciously, i have also been there done that and have the T-shirt. today, i see my desire to remain fit, active and aware as part of my practice of gratitude, taking that gift and cherishing it, by doing something more. i also get that i have choices today, one of them is to share my creative writing exercise with a friend. there is certainly a shit ton of fear when i consider doing just that. when i started writing, i never thought i would ever have the desire to share my writing, even as a rough draft. now, i have that desire and perhaps today will be that day. i write because i want to keep my brain active, just as i run to keep myself active and who knows, maybe i have a budding career as an author in the offing. who knows, life is too short to hide in the darkness of my fear. as i have heard it said many times in the past, it certainly is a great day to be clean, just for today!

∞ DT ∞