Monday, May 14, 2007

THE EASIER SOFTER WAY

That is the title of today's Daily Reflections' reading, let's see if any of it relates to me or you...

If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking.
Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 72

I certainly didn't leap at the opportunity to face who I was, especially when the pains of my drinking days hung over me like a dark cloud. But I soon heard at the meetings about the fellow members who just didn't want to take Step Five and kept coming back to meetings, trembling from the horrors of reliving his past. The easier, softer way is to take these Steps to freedom from our fatal disease, and to put our faith in the fellowship and our Higher Power.

Yup, this works for me! I have often shared in the rooms, how I have found AA to be the easier, softer way. When I think back to all the creative ways I found to avoid myself, my feelings, my actions, and how much more pain I would cause for myself and all the people around me, I know that MY way wasn't working very well at all. Today I feel so much freer, I have faith that no matter how uncomfortable it may feel at the time to face myself and my defects of character, it will never be as bad as it could be to avoid them. All of the covering up, the back peddling in a vain attempt to save face. All of the remorseful thoughts, the "really wish I hadn't done , said or thought that". WOW, way too much work for me! Today I am lucky to have all of the experiences of my past failures, the lessons I can learn from them, and the other members of the program to help and guide me. Of course I also have a loving and patient God who gently reminds me that I don't have to hurt me to learn from my mistakes.

Today I am grateful/thankful for the following...
  • I have found an easier , softer way of life
  • there are many people I can call to share my doubts and fears with
  • my HP never gave up on trying to lead me to where I am today
  • I got to spend Mother's Day with my Angel, and share my love with her
  • today is another wonderful sunny day
  • I have even more stuff blooming in my garden
  • Today I can choose to NOT have a "whinefest"
  • if I am tired, I can rest
  • if I am sad I can cry
  • if I am happy I can share my happiness with others
  • all of my clean and sober friends who walk the path with me...that means YOU
  • my sponsor , who shares all of her E, S and H with me
  • A soft place to fall, and a gentle nudge to help me up again

Happy Monday to all today! You’re The Best

9 comments:

Meg Moran said...

oh what a great post about freedom! the more I covered up to avoid things the more I got caught up in my web of lies and half-truths...what a mess it all was, and I am sooo grateful today that I can strive for honesty in all my affairs. Thanks bo-peep. luv!

Tabitha.Montgomery said...

{{you and Angel together on Mothers day..}} awesome..

ArahMan7 said...

Spending Mother's Day and sharing your love with an Angel must be an awesome event, LushGurl. I can see you still grinning from ear to ear.

I still have great difficulties to accept I do have some good qualities in me, don't I?

Nael C. Robes said...

I agree with Tab. I am so glad you and Angel got to spend Mother's day together. Definitely one of the gifts of sobriety. Have a fantastic Monday.

Sober Steve said...

Glad you sent the day with Angel. I couldn't even bring myself to call my mother yesterday. I feel like such...well I know stop it. I just can't help it. It was a rough week but I did find some good in it.

Who is the hot babe in the pic. She lloks full of life and happy to be who she is. I want what she has.

peace
Steve

Anonymous said...

Love the new pic -- are you sure that's not yer daughter??? ;-)
Awesome post, Lush. Awesome!
Peace,
Scout

Shannon said...

Hey gurly.. I am so glad your mothers day went well. Happy late Mothers day! oh and yep I can relate too

Scott W said...

I have to agree with AA being the easier, softer way. But I understand what is meant by that expression in the literature.

And I love this: meA soft place to fall, and a gentle nudge to help me up again.

Pammie said...

great post sweetie pie