Just For Today
JUST FOR TODAY I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
JUST FOR TODAY I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."
JUST FOR TODAY I will adjust myself to what it is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my "luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.
JUST FOR TODAY I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
JUST FOR TODAY I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out: if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do- just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
JUST FOR TODAY I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, keep my voice low, be courteous, criticize not one bit. I won't find fault with anything, nor try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.
JUST FOR TODAY I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.
JUST FOR TODAY I will have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.
JUST FOR TODAY I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.
Just For Today
The suggestion on the just for today card were the first tools I used when I began my recovery in Al-Anon and the card continues to be a major importance to me. Although I cannot make it through the day doing them all perfectly,I expect only progress in myself.
Here is another way of just for today before we came to program and found a new way to do it.......Hope it puts laughter into your day today..
Just for Today if he doesn't come home I wil pack the kids in the car at 11:00 p.m. on a school night, hunt him down, find him, cause a scene and drag him home.
Just for Today..I will waste time on soap operas for five hours, then Oprah and Phil, the only friends I have left.
Just for Today I will feel sorry for myself and it will show.
Just for Today I will curse God for giving me a life like this.
Just for Today I will argue, slam doors, throw things, scream at my kids, then act as if I had a right to behave that way.
Just for Today I will be a martyr. I will pretend I am a careing, loving, generous person to someone, then they will owe me a favor.
Just for Today I will take advantage of someone who owes me a favor.
Just for Today I will trade 20 seconds of ecstasy for two weeks of pain.
Just for Today I will over-schedule myself and get nothing done. Tomorrow I will add more things to do to that list.
Just for Today I will tell someone off or shame someone. If they look bad, I'll feel better.
Just for Today I will not exercise. There is nno time. I will overeat, drink caffine, smoke, then obsess on my bad health.
Ocasionally I will slip back into some of this behavior, but I am certinaly greatful that I opted for the choice to get out of the hell-hole I had built for myself. Not until I was ready to admit my behavior could I surrender it to God. Going to many meetings and hearing honesty over and over again from other Al-Anon members, allowed me the freedom and courage to face my own insane behavior. Before program I had no idea that what I was doing was insane. I knew it didn't feel right but I always believed that if I just tried something different, things would change. Well they did but only through God, my sponsor, other members and the Steps.
By backing off and allowing my husband to take responsibility for his own behavior, I got out of God's way to work on him.Sin months after I was in Al-Anon my husband sought treatment. I take no pride in this. It is entirely God's work because I finally had let my husband go.I still needed Al-Anon more then ever even though my husband is workin a program, because life still shows up. I am in recovery for me not for him.
Serenity does not elude me Today. I have more than glimmers of it and my coping abilities seem to become stronger every day. God gives me the answers if I can just be still and listen. Because of all the miracles in my life and the miracles members share, I am placing much trust in My Higher Power. Somedays it's easier then others. I seem to give the big stuff to God more readily than the little stuff. I know with pratice and lots of meetings I'll also make progress in that area.
For me one of the best parts of Al-Anon has been getting to know wonderful people. I have never had such caring, loving friends in my life as I do know in Al-Anon. They give no advice, they don't criticize or judge me, they just let be wherever I'm at, and they are loving me back to health. JUST FOR TODAY I will go to Al-Anon forever.......From one of the early Forums bu Karen R... Arizona
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light,
And where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
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