Gratitude

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.  It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you”.   Melody Beattie

Starting out in recovery is no easy task.   The changes we need to make can leave us bewildered and full of fear.  I remember when there were days when I felt there was no light at the end of the tunnel, my sponsor suggested that I make a gratitude list – a list of not what I didn’t have or desired, but what I already had in life.  This helped me realise how fortunate I was compared to others.  It made me realise that materialistic things mean nothing compared to the values we learn through taking the steps.  I now do this on a regular basis because it is the simple things we forget about that mean the most.  

An attitude of gratitude can lift the overwhelming feelings of fear and unworthiness.  In a strange way, I am grateful for having gone through a life of alcoholism because recovery was inevitably the only choice I had to surrender to a life of peace and serenity.  Today I have learned the true meaning of actually living and not just surviving.  I have conquered fear and despair.  I have become aware of my character defects and act accordingly.  I have had the chance to make amends to people I have disappointed and hurt.  I can wake up in the morning with clear consciousness and appreciate the beauty of my surroundings.  I am grateful for a roof over my head, shoes on my feet and a computer to work on and connect with others. There are so many people out there with nothing – not even food and water.  I can appreciate all the good things in life however irrelevant they may seem to others and the endless possibilities of change in this world.  I believe that I was chosen to live a life of hell so that in my awakening, I can go out into the world and help another sufferer.

In a chaotic world ravaged with war, greed, radical climate changes and economic insecurity, I am sincerely grateful for:

A second chance at life;

My family and friends;

The 12 step program, a design for better living;

The Serenity prayer;

Acceptance and willingness;

Love and tolerance;

Spiritual growth;

Paying it forward;

Choices so I can make the right ones.