“Many of us need continual reminders that detailed attention to the present moment is the only way to prepare for future opportunities and dreams.” —  In God’s Care

Regreting the past and  worrying about the future used to be a daily pastime of mine. Thankfully, because I work the program so rigorously, these are just fleeting thoughts that no longer dominate my mind. I may not be able to control my future, but I definitely play a part in whether my dreams become reality or not. By centering myself spiritually, my decisions are better. They’re  guided from a place of love, not fear. By waking up early and doing those things I may not be excited to do — cleaning house, paying bills, exercising,  calling clients, etc — I reap the rewards of success. My house is clean. The lights are on. My body is strong. I’m self supporting. Today I’ll step up and do those things I’m tempted to procrastinate on and watch my dreams manifest as ILML! 

– JamieQ

“If you try to keep an open mind you will find help.” – AlAnon Closing

Why is an open mind so important when it comes to solving problems that seem impossible to resolve, uncomfortable feelings that we can’t seem to get out of, or a sense of hopelessness that simply won’t go away? Because the help we need often comes from a spiritual source. And having a relationship with a God requires a very, very open mind, particularly if you are so smart that you know, for sure, that there is no God. Like I did. So how is it that God’s my friend now? Because I hurt enough that I chose believe and trust in a loving higher power – whether real or not. As a result, I now handle situations with an ease and grace I couldn’t do alone. I smile and laugh more often. I’m a nicer husband, father and son. I work more efficiently. I choose healthy relationships. I set boundaries and step out when necessary. I’m proud of myself. And most importantly, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“… I was suddenly flooded with such a feeling of appreciation that it brought tears to my eyes.” – Attitudes of Gratitude in Love 

About 25 years ago I started to notice that my father, Don, was starting to cry a lot when he talked about things that were emotional. Then I started noticed the waterworks happening even when we weren’t talking about happy or sad things. He would look at me and get tears in his eyes. He would say “I’m just grateful son, that’s all”. Now I’m in my 50s and the tears are flowing more often – these tears of gratitude. Life is beyond any gift I could ever imagine, and the more I celebrate my personal passion for living, the more ILML! 

– JamieQ

“If I allow myself to feel deprived, sooner or later I will… react with negative emotions.” – Food for Thought

Deprivation is described as the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities. This means air, food, water, shelter, medical care, and, of course, love. I have always had access to everything on that list – I am blessed. But in the past I did not always take good care of myself. Being scared of the dentist I avoided him. Being busy I waited too long to see a doctor. And I thought it was dumb to look in the mirror and say “I love you” so I didn’t do it. But doing the daily deal has changed it all for me. Today I don’t deprive myself of all the abundance around me. When I say “yes” to every challenge, do the footwork and step up to enjoy the rewards I receive, ILML! 
— JamieQ

“… identify the different aspects of my character that were preventing me from having healthy, loving boundaries with myself and others.” – Reaching for Personal Freedom 

Doing a thorough periodic inventory helps me uncover, discover and discard those things that keep me from playing well with others. Concurrently, it allows me to see those wonderful things about myself that make me lovable. Armed with those two, very valuable, bits of information, I can then focus on strengthening my assets, and not reacting in a way that pushes others away from me. I can also respect myself and others enough to set and follow through with healthy boundaries. It’s all possible, provided I don’t speak or act when I’m when upset. Only then, when I’m not messing up my side of the street, can ILML! 

“… as long as I think someone or something else has caused more problems, I remain a victim who has no control over my life.” – Reaching for Personal Freedom 

I had a revelation this morning. Every time I’m upset, no matter the reason, I’m instantly a victim. If I’m upset because someone says something mean, or I do something dumb, or something doesn’t pan out as expected, I’m immediately a victim. Who wants to be a victim today? I’m guessing that no one is jumping up and saying “Me! Me! Me!”. Well, neither do I. So here’s the plan: The next time I’m upset I’ll (1) Instantly recognize I am already a victim, (2) Remember that I don’t want to remain a victim for even one more second, (3) Say out loud “No thanks. Not interested in playing the victim anymore.” Then I’ll yell out ILML! 

– JamieQ

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated… I won’t withhold it from others.” – In God’s Care

Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone. And one of the ways we feel loved is when someone says things like “Great job. Thank you. Your awesome. Wow, I really appreciate you. I haven’t told you how wonderful you are, and how lucky I am to have you in my life.” Whether we are an employee, child, spouse, partner, parent, sibling, manager, owner, friend, sponsor or sponsee, it feels great to be appreciated. And appreciation translates into a feeling of being loved. I know that the best way to manifest this for myself is to give it away. Today I’ll make more of an effort to let others know that I appreciate them. The more I appreciate everything and everyone, the more ILML!  

– JamieQ

“How long are you going to hold on to things that are not working in your best interests… that are not fulfilling…” – Until Today

Every once in awhile it’s time for a self examination. It’s time to take a real good look at your life and ask yourself if what you’re doing is making you happy. Ask yourself if you’re hanging onto things, not because they are fulfilling to you, but because you think you need to hang onto them. If the answer is yes, that it’s time to let go of some things, but you’re scared of the consequences, start writing down your options. You might be surprised at what you find. Abundance is not something that just happens to us. It’s the result of choices we make and the work we do spiritually to invite abundance into our lives. By constantly exploring options for abundance, and taking the action to manifest it, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“… problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.” – AA Tradition Six

My mind tends to stray towards money, property and prestige regularly, and one of my past sponsors even told me it’s ok to work to earn money, property and the respect of others, provided it’s not my primary purpose. However, when each day, I put first and foremost a desire to do God’s will as I understand it and help others, then each night I go to sleep with a peace and happiness, a sense of self-respect and love towards myself, that no amount of money can buy. AA’s page 77 tells us that this is our true purpose in life, and when I choose to believe it and achieve it, ILML! 

– JamieQ

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melody Beattie

Many of you know I text out a gratitude list every day (accept on the days I don’t as Feldy says – lol). I also get list from lots of others. This exchange of gratitude is a huge part of my ability to love life to the fullest.  I like to keep my lists current and relevant, switching them up in order to force myself to really think of things I’m grateful for, above and beyond the regular things. Today I decided to spend about an hour making a giant list, just for fun, because when I push the limits of gratitude, ILML even more!

– JamieQ

Adam’s apple
acceptance
air conditions
ancestors
ankle
animals
amends
appendix
arms
arteries
attitude of gratitude
babies
back
bamboo sheets
baths
belly
belly button
bike riding
Bill & Bob
bladder
blood
bones
books
brain
breathing
butt
calmness
calves
cats
cells
chai lattes
change
cheeks
cherry pie
chest
chin
clean drinking water
clothes
comedy
consistency
creativity
creature comforts
crying
cuddling
dad
dancing
dedication
determination
dogs
down pillows
driving
ears
ear lobes
eating
elbow
emotions
enthusiasm
evolving
exercise
experience
eyes
eyebrow
eyelashes
eyelid
fake steak
fauna
face
feet
fingers
fingernails
flora
follicle
feet
friends
forehead
Gecko Group
gratitude lists
green grass
growth
gums
hair
hands
happiness
HBO2GO
head
healthy food
hearing
heart
heating
heels
helping others
higher power
hips
home
honesty
hope
hot water
hugs
humility
iPhone
intellect
internet
intimacy
intuition
immune system
jasmine
jaw
kidneys
kids
Kindle Fire
kisses
knees
knowledge
laughter
legs
life
lifting weight
lineage
lips
love
Macbook
Maui
meditations
meetings
miniature pigs
moon
money
motorcycles
mouth
movies
muscle
music
nails
naps
neck
nerves
Netflix
nipples
nose
nostrils
ocean
openness
organs
pancreas
pikake
pistachio ice cream
planets
plumeria trees
pores
prayer
privates
program
pull-ups
pupils
push-ups
rain
rainforests
reading
recovery
recovery texts
relationships
ribs
rivers
running
sacrifice
Santa Monica
sense of touch
serenity
service work
showers
siblings
sight
simplicity
singing
skateboarding
sky
sleep
slogans
smell
smiling
soap
sobriety
soft things
spiritual connection
spiritual backpack
sponsees
sponsor
spontaneity
squats
Starbucks
stars
steps
strength
stretching
sunshine
surfing
surrender
swimming
taste
tears
technology
tennis shoes
traditions
travel
universe
veggie bacon
vulnerability
wife
willingness
whipped cream
writing
yoga
zest for life