July 4

PATIENCE MONTH: DAY 4: “A lively understandable spirit

Once entertained you.

It will come again.

Be still.

Wait.”― Theodore Roethke

There are days when I have no energy, no delight, no inspiration. I am charged with the responsibility to bring myself back to life.

What works best for me is the practice of writing, every single day, a gratitude letter to Universal Power. I know who the source is, and it is MY responsibility to tap into that source. It feeds my spirit, lights up my life, and keeps me grounded in the reality of life and all its moments. I don’t jump up and down with glee all the time, but I am absolutely the happiest person I know. And that is a wonderful thing to be able to say.

My old friend used to say in every meeting, every morning at 7am, “Grateful people are happy people and those that ain’t, ain’t.” I loved that. He was from Scotland, and I loved the brogue, so it made me more inclined to hear it when he wasn’t around. And I do. All the time. And after 35+ years of my practice, I know it is true. I wish my friends and loved ones were more inclined to do the practice, but I only know of one who does. Why? Don’t know…just like that…damned addicts! It is like the other work in the steps people just don’t do.

But I know I love how I feel, almost all the time. It takes a few minutes for me to turn it around when I don’t. I have become pretty good at owning my own shit. That is the greatest gift ever. I get this icky stuff removed whenever I do what needs to be done. That simple. Really.