know women and men who continue to be enthused about even the tiny happenings in the passing of a day. A bird's flight from the porch to a nearby tree to feed its young, the laughter of children passing the house on their way home from school, the family reunions, large or small, bring smiles and memories that comfort. Probably we envy those folks, unless we happen to be them already. In either case, imitating others or serving as their role models helps to strengthen our positive responses to life's details. No matter how old we are, there is still joy to be felt. And there is still time to change and grow.
There is no rule that says I have to be and think and act the same way my whole life. Today is a clean slate. I can be who I want to be.
—from Keepers of the Wisdom
FEBRUARY 13
Trust
. . . the growth of understanding follows an ascending spiral rather than a straight line.
—Joanna Field
We each are traveling our own, very special path in this life. At times our paths run parallel to each other. On occasion they may intersect. But we do all have a common destination: knowledge of life's meaning. And we'll arrive at knowledge when we've arrived at the mountain's summit separately and yet together.
We do not go straight up the side of the mountain on this trip. We circle it, slowly, carefully, sometimes losing our footing, sometimes backtracking because we've reached an impasse. Many times we have stumbled, but as we grow in understanding, as we rely more and more on our inner strength, available for the taking, we become more surefooted.
We have never needed to take any step alone on this trip. Our troubles in the past were complicated because we did not know this; but now we do. Our lifeline is to our higher power. If we hang on to it, every step of the way will feel secure. The ground will be stable under us.
I am on a path to full understanding. I am learning to trust the lifeline offered by the program and God and my friends. As I learn, my footing is less tentative, and it supports me more securely.
—from Each Day a New Beginning
FEBRUARY 14
Reacting
Our behavior won't be irrational if we pause and think before acting.
Reacting to another person's craziness makes us a bit crazy too. However, someone else's anger, even if directed at us, doesn't have to trigger our anger in return.
All it takes to stop our troubling behavior is the willingness to be quiet a moment so we can think clearly before taking action. That sounds simple enough. Surely we can do it. But it takes practice, lots of it. Most of us have spent years reacting without thinking and then blaming the messy outcome on the other guy. At first, doing it the new way won't feel familiar, so our tendency will be to revert to the old behavior. Looking to the people we admire in the program for help will give us the inspiration to keep trying.
I will become adept at thinking before acting. Today will give me many opportunities to succeed.
—from A Life of My Own
FEBRUARY 15
Empowerment
What thoughts are you willing to give up your happiness for?
—Jane Nelson
Far too quickly we put the responsibility for our happiness on others. We pout and blame and cry, but our lives never change. This doesn't have to be true, however. We can decide to follow the example of the happier women we are discovering in this Twelve Step program. The difference between them and us is their willingness to be responsible for every thought they have, every feeling they harbor. It's a simple change in mind-set, but it affects every aspect of their lives.
We are just as capable of finding happiness as any of the women we have grown to admire here. They have taken back their power from the others in their lives. They let no one decide how they are going to feel or think about a situation. They take charge of themselves. It's not all that difficult or there would be far fewer successes. Let's try it today.
I can purposefully decide how I'll think and feel today. No one else's behavior will control my own.
—from A Woman's Spirit
FEBRUARY 16
Attitude
Our relationships always reflect our state of mind.
Sometimes we feel hurt and angry at everyone. It seems as if the world is out to get us. At those times, it's well to remember that our attitudes deeply influence how we see the world and the people around us. We can remember to “turn the other cheek.” When we meet an affront with kindness, the perpetrator miraculously backs off. The lesson is not that elusive.
We frequently lament the characteristics of our relationships. There is not enough intimacy, there is too much disagreement, or we share too few interests. Perhaps we have too few friends. The solution to our relationship problems is to check out our inner perceptions. The signals we send to others define what we get back in return.
When we meet happy people, we'll likely soon see the balance in their lives, the level of peace in their relationships. Positive attitudes and healthy relationships go hand in hand. Fortunately, we're in charge of the attitudes we nurture.
I am seeking the hand of the Holy Spirit today. The joy is mine.
—from Daily Meditations for Practicing the Course
FEBRUARY 17
Loving acts
To show great love for God and our neighbor, we need not do great things.
—Mother Teresa
We don't have to invent a cure for cancer or lift the burdens of a friend to prove our worth to other people. Being considerate of someone's feelings is quite enough, and it is something any of us can do. It takes only a moment's thought and the willingness to treat others as we'd like them to treat us. The real blessing is that we feel much better each time our heart guides our actions.
Loving others is perhaps the simplest of all actions we can take in this life. It requires no planning, no money, no muscle power, no problem solving. It's a simple decision we can make daily or hourly. Every person we encounter, every situation we face, is an opportunity for us to hone the skill. And every loving act or thought makes the world a better place.
It's human nature to treat others as we are treated. If each of us becomes willing to offer the hand of love to someone else today, we will indeed have done a great thing!
I can make a worthwhile contribution today. I can be kind to a stranger.
—from A Woman's Spirit
FEBRUARY 18
Higher power
Believing