“The major form my complaining took was to ask, “Why me?” Healing starts when I stop asking, “Why me?” – Hope For Today

Yesterday a sober member of AA did some work for me at my house. He is a really nice guy with many years of sobriety. He doesn’t attend meetings anymore, not happy with the people and content there. He told me he lost his faith in humanity. I understand how he feels, as I have walked in those shoes.

I told him a little about my life loving philosophy, that I insist on loving life. I explained that people, places and things will never measure up to my expectations every time, and if my happiness is contingent upon people and situations doing what I want and going my way, then I will often be unhappy. That simply doesn’t work for me. So since I know I don’t have the power to get them and those events to always confirm to my will, what do I do?

I practice acceptance by exercising my spiritual muscle – getting closer to the source of my light and love. I learn to see the struggling child that just wants to be cared for behind the angry voice I hear. I recognize the days when I was practicing wrong behaviors when my creditor says, “I can’t pay you the money I owe”. I try to be understanding and have compassion. But I don’t roll over and take abuse – I am loving to myself too, and do the footwork to take care of my emotional, physical and finacial health. I practice my program so I can better weather the storms that are sure to come.

By working such a rigorous program of love, spirituality, sobriety, health, and recovery, I find myself loving life so much more often – even when things don’t go my way.

After explaining all this to him he said, “I like that philosophy”.

Thitch Nhat Hanh once said, “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.”

It’s my deepest hope that in some small way, while I walk this green earth, I am able to help as many others as possible to learn how to love their life just a little bit more, while they walk this green earth. I love my life.

– JamieQ