February 16

HOPE MONTH: DAY 16: “I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” ― Anne Frank

I remember reading about Anne Frank in 3rd grade. She was so inspiring to me! I was living in a hellish life in those days. But nothing like what she lived through.

I would love to say that I followed her example of framing the positive parts of my life to see things differently. That is not the case, however. I went on to serious addiction and great unhappiness. I always knew I wanted to do it differently; but did not know it was all up to me.

Oh! I waited and waited for life to give me what I needed to be happy. It just got worse and worse. Then, one glorious day, those gratitude letters began to kick in. I began feeling happy, joyous and free…right AFTER I did the writing…all the writing. This took a couple of years. YEARS of writing…YEARS of working the steps. YEARS of doing things for others without telling anyone. YEARS of consistent, day in and day out service to the fellowship. YEARS of doing the right thing, even when I did not want to. YEARS of inventories and making amends when I was wrong…even when I did not believe it!

And, today, I see only the beauty and the grace and the wonder and the awe. I am transported and transformed by these processes. Not everyone gets there, but the biggest shift is in doing the writing, every single day. I can honestly say that I only remember missing maybe 20-30 days of the practices in 30 years.

Why? Because it feels good. I am addicted to my practices. And I get to live with the kind of grace that Anne Frank had. Her circumstances are much direr than mine ever were, but I know that I will continue to practice and live in grace as I do what I need to do.

There is NO magic pill or magic wand here. We get from life what we give to life. When we sit on our asses, waiting for the magic wand to be waved, or the magic pill to appear, nothing happens. In fact, it all gets worse, because now we have even greater disappointment and resentment for life. And greater unhappiness.

Then the story is on! We are so sad; our cards are very bleak. We don’t know why our ship hasn’t come in…blah, blah, blah.

Hope means there is something better for us. But hope also says that we must get up and put our hiking shoes on and go get it! We must do whatever work is indicated to get something different than what we have now.

Another program saying is: “If you want something you have never had, you must do what you have never done.” Ok…this is GO time…hope is wonderful…now you know HOW. Get on with your day! There is tremendous beauty out there, go get some!