August 1

”Life goes not backwards not tarries with yesterday.” Kahlil Gibran

Life may not take me back in time, but that certainly does not stop me from being able to get stuck in the past. If I send my energy either “what if’ing” or simply obsessing about things that have happened, the world carries on around me while I take no active role. My inability to let go, to give up control of the yesterdays that I can do nothing to change, inhibits me from being present and taking action in today. I wonder if we are one of the few species who even bothers to worry about yesterday. I can’t imagine most creatures would survive for very long if they spent as much energy thinking about all that had happened rather than taking care of what needed to be done right now. I think sometimes as a human I feel a need to complicate life when really it is meant to be simplified. If I am hungry, I eat. If I am thirsty, I drink. If I am cold, I find a way to stay warm. The weather yesterday, the report that was due, and the clothes I wore, all these details and more have next-to-no impact on my present condition and needs. Now is the time that matters and therefore deserves my attention.

Affirmation Right here, right now is where I can change, grow, learn, and work on my recovery – so let’s get to it!