Just for Today
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
"Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage, all the men and women merely players.' He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. AA and acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God's handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "They Stopped in Time," Ch 17 ("Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict"), p 449.
Just for today, I will make a conscious effort to complain about nothing if for no other reason than to experience the feeling of not complaining about anything or anyone. So much of my emotional energy was spent complaining in my drinking days and maybe even in sobriety. The end result generally has been an unsettling feeling of not getting my way with everything and everyone, and that kind of an unquenched feeling opens the door to other futile emotions like anger, resentment and smugness that I know better than anyone else. Today, let me go without complaining about any situation and anyone if for nothing more than to feel what being a non-complainer is. Let me remember, too, that those against whom I complain probably have an arsenal of complaints they can unleash on me, and I cannot expect anyone to tolerate my complaints against them anymore than I want to hear theirs against me. Today, in not complaining, let me see that I might become a happier person. And happier might make my working my Program a little less difficult. And our common journey continues. Just for today. - Chris M., 2012
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
"Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage, all the men and women merely players.' He forgot to mention that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did. AA and acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; that we are all children of God and we each have a right to be here. When I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about God's handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "They Stopped in Time," Ch 17 ("Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict"), p 449.
Just for today, I will make a conscious effort to complain about nothing if for no other reason than to experience the feeling of not complaining about anything or anyone. So much of my emotional energy was spent complaining in my drinking days and maybe even in sobriety. The end result generally has been an unsettling feeling of not getting my way with everything and everyone, and that kind of an unquenched feeling opens the door to other futile emotions like anger, resentment and smugness that I know better than anyone else. Today, let me go without complaining about any situation and anyone if for nothing more than to feel what being a non-complainer is. Let me remember, too, that those against whom I complain probably have an arsenal of complaints they can unleash on me, and I cannot expect anyone to tolerate my complaints against them anymore than I want to hear theirs against me. Today, in not complaining, let me see that I might become a happier person. And happier might make my working my Program a little less difficult. And our common journey continues. Just for today. - Chris M., 2012
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