For Today: December 27th

Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive.  One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.

Eleanor Roosevelt

To be as a child is a great and worthy goal.  Curiosity and enthusiasm are the two outstanding characteristics of children, and the most blessed of humans are those who keep these qualities all their lives.

I live life by going out and exploring it, digging into it just for the pleasure of feeling alive—which is reward enough.

Meeting life head-on has the great virtue of allowing me to see everything, to know in the instant how best to proceed—and then go ahead and do it.  I am here for the purpose of living, which means putting all my God-given faculties to their fullest and best use.

For Today:  I have a program that encourages curiosity and enthusiasm for living; and what I manage to find for myself I share with others.

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December 27, 2011 would have been my 31^st wedding anniversary had I not gotten divorced 8 years ago.

A big part of my food and alcohol addictions were in place as a coping mechanism to deal with an unhappy & unfulfilling  marriage.  When I filed for divorce in 2002, I took a huge step to reclaim my life…….and I made a decision to enjoy it………to dig into life just for the pleasure of feeling alive.

Although I didn’t find abstinence until 2008, I took a few very important & necessary steps that had to be taken first, before I’d be able to ditch the 2 crutches I’d learned to rely on so heavily.  Until I felt safe, I wasn’t able to say goodbye to my ‘old friends’……….food and booze.

So, nowadays, in 2011, my life has changed dramatically because I’ve allowed it to.  I no longer have great amounts of money, prestige or opulence in my life, but instead, I have the things that do matter a whole lot more.  Love, support, an income sufficient to keep me housed, clothed & fed…….and above all, I have myself back.  My joy of spirit, my pleasure in feeling alive, the willingness to meet life head-on instead of cowering back in fear & paralysis, curiosity, enthusiasm,  and most of all, I have the willingness to live an abstinent lifestyle, thanks to God & allowing Him back into my spirit.

For today, may I keep abstinence my #1 priority.  May I recognize the fact that no food on earth is worth risking the joy & peace of mind that is a result of recovery.