Cool stuff I found in one of my online meditations for today. Think I will be answering these tonight. It is good to remind ourselves of what life and recovery teaches us. At times when I feel super-duper-pooper low, I can look and see what lessons life has granted me thus far.
what have I learned from failure? what have I learned from a lack of money? what have I learned from pain or sorrow or depression? what have I learned through waiting? what have I learned through illness? what have I learned from disappointment? what have I learned from my family, my relationships, AA, and my critics?
-- Edited by jonijoni1 at 19:18, 2008-11-17
__________________
~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
what have I learned from failure? To do my best not to repeat mistakes. what have I learned from a lack of money? To stop and think before an impulse buy what have I learned from pain or sorrow or depression? This too shall pass. what have I learned through waiting? Patience? ugh! what have I learned through illness? To be grateful for the time that I am well. what have I learned from disappointment? To TRY not to put expectations on others or self what have I learned from my family, my relationships, AA, and my critics? I'm not a failure, I deserve love and respect, I am loved, I can turn criticism into a positive.
__________________
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
what have I learned from failure? Doing the same things over and over are not the way to get different results!!
what have I learned from a lack of money? That money doesn't make me happy. Peace of mind does. That if I stay sober, I will have more of it to use for the right things. what have I learned from pain or sorrow or depression? That just because I'm sober, doesn't mean everything will be rosie 24/7. It is a lot easier to get through stuff sober, though.
what have I learned through waiting? I still am..... let you know when I am done. Hahahahaa
what have I learned through illness? That it could always be worse, and there is always someone else out there who could use my prayers too.
what have I learned from disappointment? That I have expectations that often cannot be met in conventional ways, if at all. That God always has something better planned for me, so don't give up hope. And... the world does not revolve around ME.
what have I learned from my family, my relationships, AA, and my critics? I am worth fighting for, I have something to offer people, and I can always improve.
__________________
~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
what have I learned from failure? That there is life after every mistake & always people to help listen to my musing, moaning & working stuff out. That there is a good cause & mileage for forgiveness. That success is simply the ability to go from failure to failure without losing my enthusiasm.
what have I learned from a lack of money? That I can still breath & appreciate beautiful things around me including belongings I already have. Being grateful for what I've got. That there is safety in not spending & that my needs are always taken care of even if my wants are not!
what have I learned from pain or sorrow or depression? That there is always a strength inside me to bear it & others who care to listen to my feelings. That I have much in common with others in our humanity & that without pain or sorrow by comparison there would be no joy. That I can keep from depression by taking good care of me & staying hopeful, useful.
what have I learned through waiting? That sometimes if I wait I can be pleasantly surprised that things work out better than I could have hoped. That there is a good order that things are flowing in if I don't interfere. That sometimes my emotions running high only add to any chaos & drama I think may be happening. That I am in the care of & if I do my best everything will work out even though I won't always know how or in what ways.
what have I learned through illness? That I only have today & that it is a grace if I am well & simply life if I am not. To take care of myself in the most respecting way so that I don't get ill unduly. That the absence of illness in itself is very special. That illness itself is a reality of life & as such is beautiful in itself. A painful beauty that makes me feel lucky to even be alive.
what have I learned from disappointment? That my own in myself is the worst I could have on a daily basis. I do my utmost not to disappoint others though this is sometimes impossible. That I don't have to be disappointed so much as everything isn't necessarily all about me. Sometimes it is ok to be disappointed & then I can forgive or understand & then let go.
what have I learned from my family, my relationships, AA, and my critics? That I am lovable just for being me. That they only want for me the things I want for myself & that I don't have to take my critics as personal insults. That everyone can have their opinions & that mine with my conscience are the most important for me. I don't have to take everything so personally but I can be inspired by the best in others around me & that I don't have to be so self critical. I can help myself to improvement but my Higher Power does the most work with me when I've done my best. That I am not alone.
Thanks for the asking, Danielle x
__________________
Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
what have I learned from failure? To accept the things I can not change and the things I can - to try harder! what have I learned from a lack of money? To not spend foolishly. Money does not buy happiness, happiness is a choice. But no groceries kind of stinks. what have I learned from pain or sorrow or depression? This too shall pass, be gentle with myself. what have I learned through waiting? Still learning this one, progress not perfection. what have I learned through illness? The only real exposure I had was nursing my boyfriend through cancer, which ended in his passing. It was one of the truest times of my life. Don't sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff. what have I learned from disappointment? To not be so hard on myself and others. what have I learned from my family, my relationships, AA, and my critics? Family: I am blessed to have the family I have. They love me dearly and I am just realizing it. Relationships: Be more open and vulnerable, COMMUNICATE. AA - To look at myself. My critics - pay attention to what they say, be ready to change or accept they may be wrong and I am fine just the way I am. Be open.
__________________
__________________ "By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach." ~Winston Churchill
what have I learned from failure? Why I failed and to try to take that experience on with me so that I won't make the same mistakes/failures again. what have I learned from a lack of money? Money doesn't buy happiness. If I have enough to cover the rent, food and utility bills I have enough. what have I learned from pain or sorrow or depression? To take things one day at a time and it will pass. I just need to hang in there. what have I learned through waiting? That I am not a patient person! what have I learned through illness? That it will pass. what have I learned from disappointment? The higher my expectations of myself, others or things the harder the fall. what have I learned from my family, my relationships, AA, and my critics? That I am a good person and worthy of love.
Great post, Joni, and lots to think about for me.
__________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
What a beautiful share from all of you!!! We are all so lucky to have each other!!! Im hitting the sack but will ponder the questions presented and dream uplifting thoughts today!!!
__________________
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
