September 29

”And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln

These days, weeks and months of sobriety have given me the freedom and opportunities to look at my future. Some of that focus has been thinking about what kind of legacy I want to leave behind. Some of it has been looking at the things I would like to accomplish or the places I would like to go. One of the most interesting exercises/experiences I have done was a reflection on how my priorities in life would change if I found out I had only 1 year left to live. This made me challenge the things I am doing today to look and see if there were important things that are often being pushed to the side. I know it has made me more conscientious about spending time with those close to me, family and friends alike. It has also helped me to view of my worries and fears from a new perspective that makes me want to think about them a lot less. The biggest improvement in my life is my continually growing aptitude of living in the moment. Putting the past behind me and leaving the future to happen in its own time are huge hurdles to overcome in living for the now. Yet this is where I am needed most, right here is where I have the most to give, this exact instant is where I have the power of choice. My Higher Power has given me a huge gift, the freedom to decide what I want to do with the time that has been given to me. It’s high time that I take that responsibility seriously and respect this precious offering.

Affirmation

Time is an insubstantial thing, except for the moment I am in. It is here that life, decisions, and everything is tangible. This is where I need to be to make my life exceptional.

April 14

”Attractiveness will get you noticed, intelligence will gain you recognition but being unforgettable is based on your attitude.” Calvert Jones

I think I would like to leave behind a legacy of being unforgettable. I do believe that there is a purpose for my life, for the years I will be offered as a gift, and I hope that I make the right decisions to reach that achievement. I am confident that I have or will be provided with everything that I will need to realize that goal given to me by my Higher Power. I am not interested in being attractive or catching the attention of others. I have always believed that there was more to know about a person than simply their appearance. I don’t hold much weight for my own, not to the point of being vain, but I do enough to take care of myself. I struggle with recognition for my intelligence, my ability, my talent. I often question what right I have to share my thoughts, ideas, etc. with others. This is gradually changing, not because I am being received differently by others, but as my attitude changes. I am seeing that what I have to share is part of my path of following the will of the God of my understanding. Attitude can certainly make all the difference.

Affirmation

Life is very different depending on how I decide to approach it. Today let me face it head on, and welcome everything that comes my way.

June 18

”Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.” Benjamin Disraeli

I have a new sense of determination since finding the program. I am less apt to take no for an answer. I seem to have a new confidence that I can find solutions for situations that before seemed impossible. I give full credit to my Higher Power working in me and through me for this new ambition that I find is positive and healthy. Success has taken on a new meaning as my priorities shift to those things that are truly important in my life. I am less concerned with material acquisition; my focus is on the people and relationships that matter in my life. My goals relate more to making a real impact in the world than in trying to see how many possessions I can accumulate. I want the legacy that I leave behind to be evident in the lives of the people I have touched. That makes my family and my children my primary focus. I want to ensure I raise my kids the right way and it is my responsibility to give them the knowledge and tools to live lives based on sound principles. I want them to follow a good path in their own lives and to be a positive force in the world. I hope that my own wisdom can help them to avoid some of the pitfalls and trials I have faced. Ultimately I hope that parts of me will live on through them and continue to make the world a better place to live.

Affirmation My recovery is important to get me on the right track. It will also help me leave a legacy that I can be proud of.