Wednesday

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"Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content." - Paul Valery
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I have found it interesting about a change of perspective. For the longest of time, life for me was black or white and no in between.

I kept hearing in Al-Anon meetings to keep an open mind, look to my perspective when I felt pain on any given situation. One quote even suggested I stand on my head to see what looked different. It took lots of days and months and even into years before the scales fell from my eyes and I began to get IT.

Any time I feel uncomfortable in a situation, I look to my perspective. In doing so, I learn I am coming from a place of fear, a place of hurt, a place of hard-headedness, a place of prejudice, and a place of my way or no way (this to could be considered hard-headedness to).

With the use of the program tools, literature, meetings, and talking to others on the phone or in person, I learned to do a self check and could identify where I was in my discomfort and work towards healing and a better understanding of myself.

This in turn, began to make life easier on me. It made life with my qualifiers (people whose drinking affected my life or their "isms." I no longer point the finger at them when I'm sad, glad, in a holding pattern, or angry. It is usually because of my preconceived ideas that bring the anxiety into my life and I am the only one who can lessen or remove that anxiety.

Today, I follow the slogans and other tools of the program such as:

How important is it?
Easy does it.
Do I want to be right or be happy?
When there is a standoff: "Hmmm, perhaps you're right."
Make a phone call to another program person.
Make a meeting.
Get into my literature and read up on what I am feeling.
First things first.
Let go and let God.
Live and let live.
Just for today.

These are just a few of my tools and they work for me. I hope in sharing them with you, you may find some peace and serenity in your life. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me for a discussion.

mz. em

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Currently reading:

-- Sue Grafton ABC Gift Collection: "A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, C is for Corpse"
-- "Living, Loving & Learning" - Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D.
-- "The Daily Book of Art/356 readings that teach, inspire & entertain" - day 135
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