I worried about the future, as I did not see my way into a better life. I had one foot in the past and one foot in the future without my being present in the moment. This thinking was repeated, as the abuse did not stop. My life felt horrible, terrible, and awful. It seems endless. Through a crisis, I prayed for help. This was unusual for me because I only had learned to pray out of a hymnal in church. Even then, my prayers did not seem answered; I was still living in my dysfunctional life as the family servant. Something happened with my new prayer because it came from my heart. My prayer was answered in more ways then I realized at the time.
I found some wisdom in how to make my life more pleasant through a spiritual path and program. As a youngster, I had no knowledge there was another way to live life. I did not have to stay in fear and react as a victim, helpless and hopeless. Gradually, I learned to release my past harms, fears, and difficulties to replace them with love and grace. I even had to heal the trauma of my parents’ unresolved issues that I emotionally carried.
My biggest lesson was to live in the moment which is a gift and that is why it is called “The Present “. I would like to share some pearls of wisdom with you to stay present in your life. They have kept me sane and happier, when I remember them. Learning to make my thinking and activities productive from a good motivation in my heart and the right mind set has changed my world.
• Just for today, I will try to live though this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me, it I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
• Just for today, I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be”.
• Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my “luck” as it comes, and fit myself to it.
• Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought, and concentration.
• Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I do not want to do—just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
• Just for today, I will be agreeable, I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, keep my voice low, be courteous, criticize not one bit. I will not find fault with anything, not try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.
• Just for today, I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.
• Just for today, I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. During this half hour, sometime I will try to get a better perspective on my life.
• Just for today, I will be unafraid. Especially, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.
Al-anon Family Groups
I do not have to worry about the future if I have a good day today. My day today becomes tomorrow. In addition, I would like to share my favorite prayer. In a time of real despair, I remembered this prayer. As I prayed, my sanity returned. I realized the truth in the words and was able to move forward into a new mindset of peace.
Prayer For Today
Lord make me a channel of Thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is wrong—I may bring the spirit of forgiveness—that where there is discord, I may bring harmony—that where there is error, I may bring truth—that where there is doubt I may bring faith —that where there is despair, I may bring hope — that where there are shadows I may bing light—that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek to comfort than to be comforted—to understand than to be understood—to love than to be loved. For it is with self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
In each chapter of my book, “Paradigm Busters” at Amazon, I explain the process for moving out of the times past into a life of being present in the day. Over the years, my life has grown into daily gratitude. Life has changed into happier times.