GRATITUDE-HOW QUICK I CAN FORGET

GRATITUDE-HOW QUICK I CAN FORGET

The last few days I have a wonderful opportunity to spend time at a golf club I belong to. Late yesterday we played a “fun” competition where the winners enjoyed a great steak dinner and those who finished second had beans. Nice beans, with franks, they were.
I listened to a few folks who were unhappy about beans, and other things at the club.
How come we don’t get it?
There we were, a group of people surrounded by beauty in nature, wearing our short pants, and enjoying great fellowship. To hear unhappiness in that setting makes me wonder:”What’s wrong with this picture?’
In the 12 step meetings I attend, there are little phrases that I hear that sometimes rub me the wrong way. “ Attitude of Gratitude ” is one of them.
One a regular basis the phrase does jump into my head. This morning is one of those days. I don’t know why I feel that it is corny; it is real! “ Attitude of Gratitude ” is something I treasure.
I am constantly grateful for the chance I have been given to awaken spiritually, and live a life free from addictions. I have my self-esteem back in a healthy way, and a deeper relationship with people that matter than I ever thought possible. I have conscious contact with a higher power that walks the fairways not only of the golf course, but of life with me. How good is that?
Things in my life are not perfect, yet I have hope for the future and large amounts of serenity. These are things I looked for when I made a decision to surrender to my addictions, find a power greater than me, and start the journey of recovery.
Every step of the way I have to consciously take time to stop, reflect, note the progress, and say thank you to the people and circumstances my higher power has allowed me to experience.
Even after many years, there are crisis that do occur, pain inside I feel, feelings of fear, anger and even some insecurities. There have been times on the journey the thought has gone through my mind that returning to one of my addictions would make things better for the moment. I know what these addictions can do for me short term, I have had years of research to understand that short term they work.
Yet returning to addiction is only a fleeting thought, up until today I have chosen to work a program that gives me a daily reprieve from my addictions, and gratitude for the life that has been given to me makes a return to mood altering substances and actions not an option. I am truly grateful on a daily basis for what I have, and find I am always given what I need, not always what I want. Constant gratitude keeps me there!
I had the privilege of being in a wonderful place with some great people over the last few days. I have had the opportunity to learn a great deal about coaching as a profession, spirituality, life’s purpose and a renewed awakening over the last year. I have a gift to be able to help other people. I have a wife, family , and some friends who love me. I have a relationship with a higher power which will continue to grow until my physical presence on this earth ceases. Good stuff I have to remember!!
I have to constantly remind myself to be truly grateful.
I listen to so much discontent around me, and wonder why. I think if we are not conscious about looking for the positives and acknowledging them internally and externally, we can easily forget the good that is life!