Just For Today

Today is Day ten of the April Blogging Challenge and the letter J. I have chosen Just For Today as my topic today. This is important to those in recovery, living recovered and for those of us on this side of addiction. I can't repeat yesterday, tomorrow isn't promised so I will find some inspiration, some peace some serenity if only just for today. 

Some of us wonder if we will ever know peace? Will we ever know serenity? Will things ever be different? Although they will never be
the same ever again, and often things will never be the same after this, will our loved one ever be healed from this addiction? Will things ever feel normal again? For me, I wish there would be a day when the words heroin and addiction are no longer part of my vocabulary.

I look to things like daily affirmations, to daily inspirational readings and yes there is one called Just For Today.

I know there are so many faith backgrounds. Christianity is not a prerequisite for recovery nor is it to reach out for help or coming to groups such as Nar-Anon. Believing in God or Jesus is not a requirement. However having a connection with spirituality however you practice is important. It lightens the load a little Believing that something can help us in this time. It gives us hope that our loved one will recover. It gives us hope that we too will recover from what this addiction has caused us. It is part of the Twelve Steps of Recovery.

Step One is admitting you are powerless over the addict or the addiction and that our lives have become unmanageable.

Step Two is came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.

What I consider my Higher Power may not be what you call your Higher Power and that is okay.

One of the daily meditations that explain it better was given back on March 31st says,

"Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. The moment we catch even a glimpse of God's or our Higher Power will, the moment we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter."

If you are old enough to remember reading Dear Abby you may recall she wrote a Just For Today poem.

Just for Today: I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know that I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for Today: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with the sunshine.

Just for Today: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.

Just for Today: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.

Just for Today: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I’ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking.

Just for Today: I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.

Just for Today: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. If I am overweight, I will eat healthfully – if only just for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it’s only around the block.

Just for Today: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.

Written by: Abigail Van Buren

A couple of months ago I wrote a post about Nar-Anon and Religion after being asked. In dealing with the matters associated with the disease of addiction to many of us, a spirituality of any kind is important. This spirituality can be in many forms. Spirituality is often what we turn to when we are hurting. This is what it means:

"Spirituality may refer to almost any kind of meaningful activity, especially a "search for the sacred." It may also refer to personal growth, blissful experience, or an encounter with one's own "inner dimension."  

 I honestly believe that spirituality can be in many forms. Some of us do open speak about praying for someone who is hurting. To me, spirituality is believing in a higher power, be it God or our Creator who can help restore some of our life back to us.

No matter how you practice I hope that if you need to that you reach out to your local Nar-Anon. Remember even Wiccans pray and practice spirituality. For those who do not practice any religion, I found an informative article called, The 12 Steps Without God

Just For Today: Grant me the serenity to change the things that I cannot change the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

This is a link to our local Nar-Anon Martinsburg Nar-Anon, The Bridge Builders which asks an important question, Do I Need Nar-Anon? If you answer just one of the questions yes, please come out to one of the meetings.

I hope that you come back tomorrow to read my post about The Kids of the Heroin Epidemic.

Credits:
Recovery Daily Meditation
Just For Today Daily Meditation
Letter pic Blogging A-Z

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