A Gratitude List

1.Life on life's terms
2.God
3.Christmas
4.I did a loving thing for myself:  lit candles and took a nice warm bath.
5.I went to the gym even tho I didn't want to.
6.A beautiful day
7.Humor
8.Relaxation
9.Good, wholesome food to eat.
10.No candy in the house.
11.Safe travels
12.Restful sleep.
13.feeling energetic
14.feeling rested
15.not having regrets
16.feeling generous
17.an opportunity to give service
18.I accepted that there are certain people I choose not to interact with
19.I took communion.
20.feeling calm
21.No worries.
22.Having a plan.
23.meetings
24.writing poetry
25.friends
26.Raleigh
27.not having trigger foods around

29.reading with my
friend
30.marathons
31.candlelight
32.health
33.trying to do the next right thing
34.taking life on life's terms
35.the 10th.
36.people who love me
37.My mentor
38.The Internet
40.My accomplishments
41.12 Prayers
42.Movement
43.My God Box
44.Feelings
45.I'm supposed to feel this way
46.Not arguing
47.Questioning
48.A food plan
49.Prayer
50.Carol
51.Bea
52.Letting Go
53.Deep breaths
54.New carpet
55.God is with me and guiding me now
56.Progress
57.Hope
58.Faith
59.Still going to meetings
60.Writing Poetry
61.My Georgia friends
62.Prayer
63.Not giving up
64.Staying close to HP
65.Mimi
66.Summer memories
67.Courage
68.Trust
69.One day at a time
70.Courage that the answers will come
71.Getting the house ready
72.Getting myself ready
73.Being loved by someone
74.Loving someone
75.Asking God for what's the next right thing to do
76.Letting go
77.Getting through the party last night
78,Acting as if
79.Being cordial
80.Dressing up
81.Acceptance
82.My Brain
83.Rest
84.Belief that God has a plan
85.In time, I will know what it is
86.People who love me
87.Expressing love
88.Feeling my feelings
89.Going forward
90.Letting go of clutter
91.Space
92.A healthy breakfast
93.Singing a Christmas Carol even tho I didn't want to
94.The idea that frugality with food is the best gift I could give myself this Christmas.
95.not regretting the past
96.grateful for a new day
97.Being open to change
98.Getting things done.
99.Getting through it.
100.Being non-judgmental

A Gratitude List

 It's been said that keeping an attitude of gratitude is important.  Here's a list I composed several weeks ago:


1.Today I'm grateful that feelings are not facts.
2.For Prayer
3.That I have no pain
4.The idea of compassion.
5,I helped a friend.
6.I have something to look forward to tomorrow,
7.For Cari
8.My pharmacist
9.My doctor
10.for the phrase "this too shall pass."
11."Relax and take it easy."
12."God gave us a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind."
13.Deep breaths.
14.Dottie.
15.Cheryl.
16.A friend who was just released from the hospital.
17.Having a Higher Power.
18.12 step prayers.
19.A peaceful house.
20.Abstinence today.
21.Support from OA friends
22.My pink stocking cap.
23.Bea
24.Basmati rice.
25.Public Radio
26.Hot showers
27.Turning it over
28.For organic bananas
29.And apples
40.for forgiveness
41.my God box
42.for rain
43.clean
water
44.staying fully awake
45.saying thank you
46.for how it works
47.green tea
48.Sandy B.
49.working with others
50. 7 a.m. meeting
51.being non-judgemental
52.My Ipod
53.the Beatles
54.Dave Brubeck
55.my cat coming out of a fight nicely
56.the Modern Jazz Quartet
57.Pat Metheny
58.blue skies
59.music that moves me
60.Alberta Hunter
61.attending a serenity day retreat today
62.Chuck
63.my brother and sister in law
64.Mary Ann
65.Rita
66.Neill
67.Raleigh
68.my laptop
69.the Internet
70.a Higher Power
71.my prayers for love and tolerance for all
72.all of you out there
73.snow
74.forgiveness
75.Susan
76.slow dancing
77.being an incurable romantic
78.Brookline, MA
79.slow breathing
80.my Sunday school class
81.abstinence
82.the color pink
83.step 10
84.Chapel Hill
85.a safe drive
86.gas and oil in my car
87.believing that God will do what I cannot do for myself
88.what Jesus said about forgiveness
89.my blog
90.letting go of what others think about me
91.taking action
92.for God guiding me
93.having a flexible body
94.the Durham group
95.wanting a better life
96.the music and culture of Raleigh
97.feeling my feelings
98.an opportunity to see the Lincoln film today
99.a peaceful feeling in my soul
100.letting go of fear
101.the phrase "Into Action"

Staying Peaceful During the Holiday Season

Sometimes, the holiday season can be a time of "too much."  Too much food, too much drink, too much of material things.  I attended a workshop on how to stay peaceful during the holidays and came away with the following tips:

1. Take a plate of food but don't eat everything on it, and don't go back for seconds.
2.  Remember that there's no better gift to give yourself than a healthy and stress free holiday.
3.  "Get into others" rather than into the food and sugar.  Ask people how they are doing, what there plans are for the coming year.  Interview them.
4.  Refrain from foods that are problems for you:  sugar, junk food, chips, eating when you're not hungry.
5.  Refrain from "alcoholic" behaviors like arguing and being right.
6.  Remember that refraining from overindulgence will allow us to embrace a higher power.
7.  Discretion and recovery go hand in hand.
8.  Take telephone numbers.
9.   Call people.
10.  Don't internalize hurtful comments. 
11.Say the 4th step prayer:  "Dear God, I have a resentment towards a person that I want to be free of. So, I am asking you to give this person everything I want for myself. Help me to feel compassionate understanding and love for this person. I pray that they will receive everything they need. Thank you God for your help and strength with this resentment."  (BB, Freedom from Bondage:  552)
12. Help others.
13. Send cards.
12. Lead a meeting.
13. Make phone calls to people and tell them what they mean to you.
14. Feel your feelings.
15. Plan meals.
16. Name your feelings, claim them and release them to God.
17. Remember that "feelings are not facts."

Christmas Poem, 1991

A Christmas tradition

in our house every year

Was giving a poem

To a loved one so dear.

So with this in mind,

From the time you were six

I wrote a poem to you, what a trick!

Each poem captured memories

Of a great life together,

Especially in Alaska,

Where we had snowy weather.

The first Christmas we had,

You were just three months old,

The bright colored boxes,

Were a joy to behold.

The year you were two,

I knew you would like

The bright yellow color 

Of a Sesame Street trike.

A few years later,

I believe you were four,

You graduated to a 

"big daddy" by Lakeshore

(which you rode to Swan Lake and back!)

Compiling My Bucket List

See a Rolling Stones concert

ATTEND a Rolling Stones concert

Visit Sitka, Alaska during the Summer Music Festival

Go back to Paris

The Rolling Stones on Thanksgiving, 2012 by Dana Stone, November 25, 2012

 

              At my house we gathered

On Thanksgiving this year

For turkey and dressing

And goblets of cheer.

Pumpkin pies waited

For a nice touch of sweet,

I managed a sugarless

One for a treat.

John toasted a toast,

That was really quite smoothe,

Then together we four

Dug into the food.

With a Samba or two

Caressing the speakers,

Pretty soon we made haste,

To put on our sneakers.

For a walk on the Common

And onto the Square

We circled two times,

Before coming up for air.

Those marvelous Stones,

So thoughtful were they,

To keep the dogs leashed,

Lest they both bale and stray.

To the Best Western they all headed,

To spend a “quiet” night,

But the hallway noise

Gave Jack quite a fright.

The room was ok,

And not at all dusty.

But who would have thought

That the water would be rusty?

They checked out in haste,

And I would surmise,

That they headed for Lowe’s

For a big surprise!

For a new microwave,

And one that was stronger,

Than the old one of Dana’s,

That would last no longer.

Along with that present,

Came plants galore,

To beautify the yard,

And make a festive front door.

Azaleas were bought,

And bulbs, it’s quite clear,

That my yard will be blazing

With flowers next year.

John tidied the privotte,

After a nod and a nap,

With Sue’s expert guidance,

It was truly a snap!

A conical tree!

How they figured this out,

I really can’t see.

Their teamwork was keen,

and left me so blessed,

That I leveled and trimmed,

The remains of the rest!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

What Jesus Had to Say About Forgiveness

"But what about really bad repeat offenders?" Peter asked.  "What 

if someone keeps doing wrong?"  Is it our job to keep forgiving  

and forgiving?"

"Yes," Jesus said plainly.

"But how many times, Lord?"  Peter seemed exasperated.  "Shall I 

keep forgiving, even up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "Not just seven times, but seventy times seven 

times!  If people are truly trying to repent each time and change

their lives, then you should forgive them, and work with them 

until they accomplish their goal."

(From The Children's Bible, Day by Day, 2005)