Just For Today: Our Voices Need To Remain Loud and Clear

If  Only, Just For Today

Today is Sunday. Last Sunday I posted about my own personal journey, Walking the Twelve Steps. In this post I told how hard it was at Step Four, you know the one that we take a moral inventory of ourselves, where we are in this addiction and ask ourselves the question Who Am I in this addiction?

Oh my, what we discover about our own character flaws!

If  Only, Just For Today

Of course, I've moved on in my journey. I have admitted to my

Today

Today is October 1st already. I sat yesterday looking out the window at the cold rain falling and wondering, just where did September go?

It feels we have went from the hot days of summer over to fall in just about a day. I love the fall- cooler temps, the colors of fall even the smells of fall- but the cooler temperature is reminding me of the coming season.

I know as the temperatures get colder there won't be as many events and that is okay.

Just for today I am happy. I am happy that I have less stress than yesterday. I am happy that I can see my son growing stronger and stronger each day as he rebuilds that foundation of healthier living away from addiction.

It is a great feeling.

Today, my son isn't using.

Today, he is the man that we always knew he could be.

Today, is another day of hope and love!

Today although it is cool and rain showers are around I feel truly blessed, if it is only just for today!

Just For Today

I rely on holistic practice and natural remedies for a lot of things. I prefer the all natural means and methods for healing and over all wellbeing.

Just for today I thank God for Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy and his all natural stress reliever. It doesn't make those I do not wish to talk to at the moment go away. They are still trying to contact me through Facebook, but oh Lord does it relieve the stress! It helps center my Chi and brings a sense of restoring balance back into my life again.

Today I am sipping on Yogi's Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy Tea listening to my Moodscape music. The

Today, I Am Grateful For The Rain

When I think of all the things I am grateful and thankful for it is often like looking into a kaleidoscope. So many things swirling around in my mind. So much beauty and yet still so much pain.

Today I am grateful for the rain that is falling.

Rain falling on my flowers and my garden.

Rain for the grass which is turning brown from the lack of thereof.

Rain for the ground under our feet which is turning hard.

The dark clouds in the sky to the south. The sun appearing in the sky to the north.  I hope for a rainbow but still grateful for the rain.

We need some rain not only to water our gardens and vegetables and flowers but also to fall and wash away the old but to bring about the new again.

I am learning that with the sun some rain must also fall to wash away the sorrows and the pain. With the rain that is falling and the new day ahead I am thankful for this beautiful day.

Pic from quotesgram

© 2016 Gossip Girl

Challenge Myself: Day #43 Hello

Today is Day #43 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about just saying 'hello'.

The book says,

Pay attention to the people around you. Instead of standing next to the stranger for the elevator ride up several floors, look them in the eye and offer a greeting.

Hello is easy to say. It's only one word.

It might lead into a conversation about the weather, the latest news about your city or town, or something about the environment (the noise next door due to construction, for example).
You'll never know where the elevator chit-chat might lead if you don't open your mouth in the first place. And who knows!

That stranger could become a new friend or a romantic interest.

If you have read other posts for this section you will know that I am married and not seeking any other interests.

I have stated a couple of times in this section on Happy Relationships that we never know what another person is going through. That person in front of you at the grocery store or behind you in the grocery store could also be affected by this heroin epidemic here.

Some are stuck in the stigma that society has placed on the families of those suffering from addiction and I know how lonely of a place that can be. We lived there for eleven years- afraid to talk about it openly.

BTW November 21st is, World Hello Day!!!

Just for Today: In case no one told you today, Hello

From the book: Live Happy

Grateful To Breathe

Living the life of loving someone addicted to drugs it is often hard to be grateful for anything much less finding something to be thankful for in the moment especially when you are angry.

I am trying very hard and in fact learned a few things just yesterday that pretty much has put the puzzle of our sons relapse in an order that makes sense. There are many factors which caused this to occur.

He didn't purposely relapse. No addict sets out to purposely live a life of drugs and abuse of drugs. Until those close to me has a better understanding of this drug in particular and recognizes that this is a disease I have had to distance myself. It's much easier that way. I'm tired of explaining it. I'm tired of hoping they will understand it. I am pretty much at the, LEAVE ME ALONE phase.

In Nar-Anon I hear Tina constantly say, Just Breathe. I close my eyes often and just breathe. Without the air to breathe I couldn't survive. So right now I am grateful for the air I breathe.

Go ahead Warrior Mamas and Papas, put this on repeat.

Remember we often pray for what we need, but do we ever really just say thanks for the smallest bit of gratefulness such as the air that we breathe.

pic from: Facebook

© 2016 Gossip Girl

A Mother's Serenity Prayer

Rules For Life

We have but one life what will we do with it?

Challenge Myself: Day #35 Finding Purpose In Your Life

Today is Day #35 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy Challenge into my Just for Today and daily routine. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about finding purpose in your life and to write a mission statement of your life.

It is so funny how this challenge goes a little a long with Step #4 of NarAnon and how we are to search ourselves and make a fearless moral inventory of our lives.

The book says,

Challenge Myself: Day #34 New Traditions

Today is Day #34 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to start a new family tradition.

The book says,

Brainstorm with your children and spouse about making a new family tradition. Perhaps something wonderful and spontaneous occurred as you were preparing to leave for summer vacation, the night before Thanksgiving, the afternoon of the first snowfall of the season, or on the way to the pumpkin patch.

Or, maybe you had a pillow fight that ended with everyone making popcorn, S'mores, and watching old movies in your pajamas... if it still evokes powerful memories for all

Challenge Myself: Day #33 A Giving Heart- Community Generosity

Today is Day #33 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about Community Generosity

The book says,

Pick ripe fruit off your backyard trees and box it up for a local food bank to give to the poor. Giving your surplus fruit and produce to a local food bank will help feed people without resources or options to purchase everything they need.

You'll be glad to know you did something nice for someone else and that the excess fruit and vegetables won't be wasted. Even if you live in a city and don't have fruit trees, you could share vegetables and herbs from it with the poor.

We here in West Virginia we have witnessed many acts

Challenge Myself: Day#31 A Giving Heart

Today is Day #31 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to help your favorite giving from your heart to charity.

The book says,

Let us continue to give abundantly. That which we are willing
to receive abundantly- Eleesha

Want to live a more virtuous life, but you're not the type to do spontaneous acts of kindness or generosity?

Then think of your favorite charitable cause, put together a list of charities that work on

Challenge Myself: Day #30 Giving The Gift of Life- Donate Blood

Today is Day #30 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy Challenge into my Just for Today and daily routine. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about Giving. The ultimate gift we can ever give is that of life.

The book says,

The greatest gift you can give anyone is the gift of life. Hospitals nationwide provide life saving blood transfusions every day. Yet, all too often, a shortage of blood prompts blood donation centers, the American Red Cross, and hospitals to call upon citizens to donate and help replenish the nation's blood supply.

Blood banks repeatedly call upon their good donors, those who don't mind coming in as frequently as every six weeks, to help

Your Assignment...

Challenge Myself: Day #29 Learn To Save A Life

Today is Day #29 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to learn to save a life.

The book says,

Imagine the happiness you would feel it you were personally able to save someone's life. Prepare by learning how to do some simple first-aid, cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the Heimlich Maneuver.

Classes are often offered through the American Heart Association, the parks and recreation departments of many cities, and also through hospitals and clinics in community outreach programs. OR even The Red Cross offers many such as first aid.

Find a class near you and take it. Then if you witness someone who has a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. But also don't hesitate to apply what you have learned. Doing something is better than doing nothing. You may even save someone's life through quick action.

Now, there's something to be happy about!

Many, many years ago I was a Girl Scout. I took a First Aid Class to earn a badge. I worked a job years ago and had to learn CPR and maintain my card. Although I've never had to use it, I do know how to do the Heimlich if I would ever need to.

In all my life I never thought I'd ever have to take a Narcan/Naloxone Class because the life I may have to save one day would be someone I gave birth to.

Remember, the life you save may be someone that you love!

Just For Today: Today I will appreciate life.

Take A CPR Class

Take A Narcan Training Class
Also Narcan Classes are held at the BC Health Dept. (304)263-3151

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #28 What Is Really Important To Me?

Today is Day #28 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy Challenge into my Just for Today and daily routine. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to make a list of what is important to me.

The book says,

Millions of people live their lives without a sense of direction. Unless you know what is really important to you and what you want out of life, how are you going to know where you are going, how to get where you want, and what your life purpose it?

Think of ten things that are really important to you, for example, family unity. Then makes each item as specific as possible. Instead of family unity, maybe you really mean eating meals together, working on the chores together, or praying together.

Refine the ten things on your list until you know exactly what is of primary importance to you. These are the things that will make you the happiest. Knowing what they are can help you make better choices in your personal life journey.

This is a powerful exercise, for one I really haven't thought about it until I started listing some and then it became apparent that I need to work on me and my priorities.


Just For Today: I will focus on what is important to me

From the book: Live Happy

Challenge Myself: Day #27 Be Kind

Today is Day #27 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is about random acts of kindness.

Life is so busy that sometimes a random act of kindness happens and we aren't even aware of it.

The book says,

Push the buttons in an elevator for a fellow rider.
Help an elderly person up the steps to a building, a subway exit, or onto a bus.
Pick up an item that someone drops on the ground.
Put your pocket change into a charity box.
Invite a fellow shopper to move ahead of you in the check out line.
Shovel the snow off your neighbors walk.
Offer to let someone share your umbrella.
And many, many more...

Random acts of kindness require very little effort but pay great dividends in the good karma and personal happiness they generate.

If only just for today, be kind to someone. Kindness can come in many forms. Something simple as smiling at someone is an act of kindness. Hold the door open for someone. Say thank you to someone who held the door for you. Soon you'll notice one leads to another and then another and sooner or later you won't realize that it comes natural and you aren't aware that you are being kind to another. Another way is to pay if forward with a small kind gesture. That homeless man or woman you see on the street is probably thirsty in this sweltering heat. Buy him or her a bottle of water.

Many right now are doing acts of kindness in helping those who lost everything in the flood areas here in West Virginia.

Just For Today: If I do nothing else today I will repay with kindness.

Random Acts Of Kindness Website

From the book: Live Happy

Pic found @ Pinterest

An Act Of Kindness

Found @ Worth A Borrowed Head

Challenge Myself: Day #26 Tolerance In A World Filled With Hate

Today is Day #26 of our Nar Anon Group Just For Today Challenge. I am also integrating the Live Happy into my Challenge. The Live Happy Challenge for today is to learn tolerance.

The word Tolerance means: The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree such as acceptance, willingness, open mindedness.

The book says,

Sometimes We Just Have To Close Our Eyes And...