Josee M

“just for today, i’ll focus on the people i’m with. . . .        In this day and age, it’s astonishing to see how many people feel that it’s not rude to ignore the people they’re with while they talk on their phones to other people who aren’t even there.  When we start focusing on someone who isn’t with us, we send a message to the people who are with us that they aren’t as important as those other people, and that what I have to talk about with this person on the phone is much more important than what I have to talk over with you.      Most of us can’t remember what it’s like to give our undivided attention to someone else—or to have someone else give his or her undivided attention to us.  Some of us never have experienced this at all, and that’s quite a shame, for it’s one of the most important ways to develop relationships that we have.  Just for today, let’s turn off the cell phone when we’re with friends, and live in the moment with the people who are with us.  We can catch up with the others later (as we used to do with no problems).”
― Tom Walsh, Just for Today, The Expanded Edition

“Prayer for the Day God, help me find You in my moments of blindness. This is when I really need You.”
― Anonymous, Keep It Simple: Daily Meditations for Twelve Step Beginnings and Renewal

“Every day I stand at turning points. My thoughts and actions can propel me toward growth or turn me down the road to old habits and to booze. Sometimes turning points are beginnings, as when I decide to start praising, instead of condemning someone. Or when I begin to ask for help instead of going it alone. At other times turning points are endings, such as when I see clearly the need to stop festering resentments or crippling self-seeking. Many shortcomings tempt me daily; therefore, I also have daily opportunities to become aware of them. In one form or another, many of my character defects appear daily: self-condemnation, anger, running away, being prideful, wanting to get even, or acting out of grandiosity. Attempting half measures to eliminate these defects merely paralyzes my efforts to change. It is only when I ask God for help, with complete abandon, that I become willing—and able—to change.”
― Alcoholics Anonymous, Daily Reflections: A Book of Reflections by A.A. Members for A.A. Members

“just for today, i’ll allow many things to be out of my control. . . .        This can be very difficult for many of us.  When someone tells us about something bad going on, we tend to want to solve the problem, to exercise some level of control over it.  If someone is misbehaving, we often feel obligated to make that person change his or her behavior.  But many, many things in this life are not under our control, nor should they be—and we shouldn’t try to exert our influence trying to control them.  Sometimes we need to accept that this is someone else’s problem, and that person is able to deal with it, or that this is an issue that’s going to take some time to resolve, or that this really, truly is none of my business.      There are plenty of things in life that go on quite well without our involvement, and when we try to push ourselves in, we can add stress to our own lives and complicate the situations.  So today, I’m going to let some things go, for they aren’t my affair.”
― Tom Walsh, Just for Today, The Expanded Edition