Saturday, January 16, 2010

Sunday 1/17/2010 - "HEARD TODAY"

"HEARD TODAY"


This was one of those days when everywhere I went I heard things said (or sung) that rang beautiful bells deep inside me. They resonated. I heard many of them from a couple of women at my women's Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. One I actually heard the other day in an Al-Anon meeting, but the scrap of paper I wrote it on fell out of my purse at the AA meeting. The song was sung at mass this afternoon. I'm sharing with you what were gems for me.

"Our experiences with others aren't chance. Fellow travelers are carefully selected by the inner self, the spiritual guide who understands our needs in this life." (From "Each Day a New Beginning", January 16 - the topic of today's AA meeting.)

I don't need to suffer anymore.

I have suffered enough.


Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.


It is amazing what I have come to tolerate AND it is amazing what I have come to not tolerate.

I got sick of 'just' surviving.


I thought I wasn't as bad as you when I first arrived in Alcoholics Anonymous because I still had car insurance.

I knew I was getting better when my driver's license, my car insurance card, and my automobile registration all had the same address on them.


Let go or get dragged.


Pain is the touchstone to all spiritual growth. (From our AA literature)

My behavior is no longer contingent on your behavior.


Move a muscle - change a thought.

Change a thought - change a feeling and an attitude.

My feelings and needs are as important as your feelings and needs.


Let the 5 Ds guide your path: Detachment, Discretion, Discipline, Discernment, and Decorum

A grateful heart is a happy heart.

No! - is a complete sentence.


Song refrain: "Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life."
(Words that speak to the deepest part of me.)

My heart is full of gratitude tonight. I am happy in this moment.

Prayer Girl
(Photo credit: Incense Of My Soul by Khan71 @ deviantart.com)

14 comments:

Susan said...

We share the same Catholic faith and I love that song myself! Thanks for your words in your blog and for reading and encouraging my on mine!!

Mike Golch said...

great posting.

Anonymous said...

I like the 5 Ds! That was a good one!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

wow. I love this post and I love love love the picture. Have a great weekend. Sarah

Shadow said...

i like this one. a lot! "No! - is a complete sentence."

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

"It is amazing what I have come to tolerate AND it is amazing what I have come to not tolerate."

I have to admit something ... when I read this the first time I just read it as I choose what I participate with and what I walk away from, then I read it again....

"What I came to not tolerate"

When I decide something is wrong how often do I show up to fight ahead of the wrong and look for it so I can not tolerate?

I didn't look at it that way before.

Thanks Anna, as always these words I read on your blog are something for me to meditate much more deeply on.

Cindy said...

So much good in this post! Thank you!

inappropriatesue said...

"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."

Truer words have never been spoken! THank you for stopping by my blog and for your comment. I responded on my blog :) Have a blessed Sunday!

Just Be Real said...

PG super post! Thank you!

Felicitas said...

What a inspirational words! Thank you for sharing these.

Brian Miller said...

nice. lots of great lines here...

wolfie185 said...

Wow great post PG. Thanks for sharing.

Kathy M. said...

Wonderful! So much wisdom here in so few words. I had never heard the 5 D's before. Also loved the one about car insurance, and move a muscle. Thanks for sharing.

Syd said...

These are great sayings from meetings. I like those 5 D's.