July 29

”Make each day your masterpiece.” John Wooden

Each day is new, unblemished and full of possibility. When I keep to the routine of my program, start my morning with my daily prayer and meditation, and find time for the reminders like the Serenity Prayer, reaching out to other members, reading SAA literature, writing, working on my steps, I increase the chances of staying present to create a work of art that I will be proud of. This is not a claim of false pride but a sense of accomplishment, of a job well done, of a day spent living as my Higher Power wishes of me. When I lose sight of the simple things that maintain my serenity it does not take long to turn my day towards disaster. I need to be vigilant and aware when my thoughts and deeds are leading me astray from the will of the God of my understanding. I can very easily become distracted from the present by focusing on small things beyond my control. I need to give myself mental kicks in the butt to turn my attention back to the here and now. It is equally important for me to end my day the right way. For me that includes not eating too much sugar close to bedtime, going to sleep at a reasonable hour, reading, journaling or reflecting on the day, and closing by giving thanks to God for what I have experienced and discovered in the past 24 hours. It sets me up to get out of the right side of the bed in the morning.

Affirmation Sticking to my routine today may not guarantee success but it will certainly increase my chances.