Tag: grateful
Doing my (little) bit
Gratitude List 29/06/2019
Gratitude List 29/06/2019
Today I am grateful for the English weather. Sometimes cold, sometimes hot, sometimes wet, sometimes dry and highly possible to experience all four seasons in one day. But it’s rarely severe to the point lives are lost.
Today I am grateful to be up with the birds and on my way to better myself with some recovery work. An early morning spiritual gym workout!
Today I am grateful my willingness to put in diligent effort is as strong as it was when I started my spiritual journey two and a bit years ago.
Today I am grateful to be able to close my eyes wherever I am (currently on a bus) and improve my conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation.
Today I am grateful for how much God has been speaking to me (through God’s conscience – gut instinct) and for how much I have been listening to him.
Today I am grateful for recently witnessing how recovery has helped people come through some very difficult times. It’s absolutely miraculous.
Today I am grateful for who I am. For my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. My outlook upon my self has completely changed.
Today I am grateful that despite with being happy with who I am, I will not stop working. For two reasons, one I can still progress further – I am no saint, and two if I stop I will surely degress.
Today I am grateful that one thought of recovery and all of a sudden my gratitude list goes off on another spiritual tangen. I started with the weather! Can’t help it! I have so much gratitude for it.
Today I am grateful for all the poeple in my life who have helped shape me into the person I am today. Good or bad experiences, I have learnt from you all.
Gratitude List 28/06/2019
Gratitude List 28/06/2019
Addiction demanded so much of me. It demanded my time, my money, my thoughts, my sanity, my happiness. It demanded dishonesty, selfishness, fear and resentment. It demanded me to break relationships, lose trust and isolate. It demands I get nothing in return. Nothing.
Recovery made no such demands of me, in fact it made suggestions.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I attend meetings regularly.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I share how I am feeling.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I do service at the meetings.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I work through the 12 steps.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I do so with a sponsor.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I carry the message to another.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I am honest, open-minded and willing.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I believe in a power greater than myself.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I am loving, caring and forgiving.
Today I am grateful recovery suggests I complete a simple set of suggestions.
In comparison, these suggestions are far less taxing than the demands gambling made. Truthfully, they’re not taxing at all. They aren’t chores. They are blessed opportunities. Unlike addiction, I get an abundance in return – I get serenity, happiness, hope, humility, trust, maturity, faith, self-esteem, emotional security, purpose, tolerance, love, etc etc etc.
If only these suggestions were demands 😉
👍🏻💪🏻❤😊🙏🏻
Gratitude List 27/06/2019
Gratitude List 27/06/2019
Today I am grateful I took my car in for it’s MOT before it expired!! Woop woop! Responsible me! Haha!
Today I am grateful that not a lot of work needed to be done. I don’t know how. I should really make amends to my car, I’ve caused a lot of harm through neglect over the years.
Today I am grateful I agreed to get the brake pads replaced even if it would have passed the MOT anyway. No way I would’ve done this in the past, I would’ve run the risk!
Today I am grateful for the school run this morning with my daughter. Always has been one of my favourite parts of my day. Saying goodbye always tugs at the heart strings.
Today I am grateful my son is comfortable in our new home. He was more than happy to stay in bed, have a lie in and then make his way home a bit later.
Today I am grateful for the lovely evening we had last night. After dinner we went outside in the garden and just talked. No TV, no phones, just interaction.
Today I am grateful to reach day 4 in my food related abstinence. The obsession is not there at the moment and when it is, I am able to surrender to God’s will.
Today I am grateful for the day ahead of me. If all goes to plan, I’ll finish work mid afternoon and follow it up with several hours of service, recovery and unity.
Today I am grateful for this opportunity. For this void in my day to do this suggestion. I’m grateful I haven’t filled it with something not so positive.
Today I am grateful for the smile on my face, the serenity in my mind and the bounce in my step. It really does work if I work it.
Gratitude List 26/06/2019: No longer
Gratitude List 26/06/2019
Yesterday, I had to make a card payment over the internet. To complete it, I had to take my card out of my wallet to find out the card number etc.
Today I am grateful I no longer know all the details of my bank cards off by heart. This wasn’t autistic behaviour, it was a result of continuous online deposits.
Today I am grateful I no longer have to write frantically whilst looking at a TV screen instead of what I’m writing on.
Today I am grateful I no longer have to go outside to answer my phone. “Sorry darling, I’m stuck in traffic.”
Today I am grateful I no longer have to jump behind some furniture when certain people walk past. Staff must’ve thought I was mad.
Today I am grateful I no longer have to cough whilst in bed to hide any sounds the online roulette machine makes.
Today I am grateful I no longer have to hide under the duvet and dim the phone light.
Today I am grateful I no longer know what number it will be just by where the ball comes out. And let everyone know about it too!
Today I am grateful I no longer have to transfer pence from on account to another to make up a withdrawable amount.
Today I am grateful I no longer have to queue up in a bank with my drivers licence because I had found the strength to leave my bank cards at home.
Today I am grateful I no longer have to use the work printer to scan my identity because my online accounts had been blocked due to suspected fraudulent activity. It was just me and my insanity!
Gratitude List 25/06/2019
Gratitude List 25/06/2019
Today I am grateful to hear the sound of the rain hitting the window. It’s very tranquil.
Today I am grateful to be surrounded by life. So much of what is around me is alive like I am.
Today I am grateful I feel a part of the life around me. I can connect to it and tap in to its power.
Today I am grateful for how my outlook upon has changed, is continuing to change.
Today I am grateful I can learn from my past, make the most of the present and have hope for the future.
Today I am grateful that my conscious contact with God as I understand Him is improving. Something magical is happening.
Today I am grateful I am surrendering to His will. This thought process has made it easier to do the right thing.
Today I am grateful for the plans I have made for today. Thinking of others is my motto.
Today I am grateful my daughter has been given her first phone – she’s better at answering it than my son, that’s for sure.
Today I am grateful for how at peace I feel.
The rain can add to the beauty.
Gratitude List 24/06/2019: Time
Gratitude List 24/06/2019
When in action, I always find time to feed my compulsions. My responsibilities are thrown out the window and with them goes my chances of living a happy, joyous and free life.
Why is it then, when in recovery, time seems to dissappear? Of course, as an addict in recovery I am more responsible. No longer am I dishonestly creating time to act out. I often told work “I need to pop to the bank” or text my girlfriend “Sorry, I have to do overtime”. Nowadays, when I should be at work, I’m at work. As such, some of the windows of time I used to have are now shut with this new found maturity.
I was once deviously clever with creating time. Now, I can still be clever, but in a sincere way. I have to, my life and happiness depend on it.
Today I am grateful I can create time by going to sleep later.
Today I am grateful I can create time by setting my alarm earlier.
Today I am grateful I can read and write whilst commuting to work.
Today I am grateful I can call if I’m driving (using hands free of course).
Today I am grateful to have an opportunity during my lunch break.
Today I am grateful I can read and write whilst commuting back home.
Life is life and it may not be possible to do all of the above but I have learnt to make use of the opportunities when they arise. If I procrastinate and leave it till the next opportunity, it may never materialise.
Today I am grateful I can choose to fill the voids in my evenings with recovery.
It doesn’t mean I can never watch TV, it doesn’t mean I can never go to the gym, it doesn’t mean I don’t get to spend quality time with my loved ones. But as my life and everything in it depends on whether I am clean and abstinent, I must choose to sacrifice things on a daily basis. It may mean I need to delay watching TV, it may mean I have to ask the kids to play in their room for a bit. If I’m clever and wise and make the most of my opportunities, I will still have plenty of time each day to enjoy life.
If I find myself struggling to fill these voids with something productive:
Today I am grateful I can recognise and admit when I am suffering with laziness or procrastination.
Today I am grateful I can hand over my will to my greater power and ask for His strength and guidance.
Today I am grateful I can surrender to His guidance when that ‘gut feeling’ tells me I should be doing something else.
Lastly, I mustn’t forget that doing recovery work is good for me!! It’s not a chore!
Gratitude List 23/06/2019
Gratitude List 23/06/2019
Today I am grateful for the lovely walk around the beautiful Walthamstow Wetlands.
Today I am grateful for the shots of blue and orange as a kingfisher darted across our viewpoint.
Today I am grateful for my colleagues at work. The teamwork and comradery is amazing.
Today I am grateful for the messages I receive on a daily basis from like minded fellows.
Today I am grateful I was able to surrender to God’s will tonight and listen to His guidance.
Today I am grateful I am not sleeping on the street. Over the last few hours, I’ve seen many who are.
Today I am grateful for the tube drivers who are up early and ready to take me home!
Today I am grateful for my bed. I am looking forward to climbing into it.
Today I am grateful that my girlfriend, my children and their love will be there when I wake up.
Today I am grateful to get on my knees and thank God for everything I have and for his continued guidance and strength.
Walthamstow Wetlands
Gratitude List 22/06/2019
Gratitude List 22/06/2019
Right now, I am exhausted and as a result I am super irritable. Time for some simple gratitude.
Today I am grateful I am not gambling.
Today I am grateful I have nothing to worry about.
Today I am grateful I am not in a rush.
Today I am grateful for the clothes on my back.
Today I am grateful for the food in the fridge.
Today I am grateful for my health.
Today I am grateful for the opportunities I have.
Today I am grateful for the beautiful weather this morning.
Today I am grateful I have plenty to be grateful for.
Today I am grateful I have some answers.
Today I am grateful I am alive, I have my freedom and I have my sanity.
Today I am grateful for each breath.
And hey presto! I feel much better! These gratitude lists, as well as other recovery tools I have gathered along the way, have the ability to change the direction of my day. All I need to do is surrender to God’s will when He plants a thought of action in my head, instead of of surrendering to my own self-will telling me not to bother.
gratitude4gratitude 