The Tempest Project

[evile]

Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,
Yet, with my nobler reason 'gainst my fury
Do I take part; the rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance.

Last night, Thax and I got all steampunked up and went to see "The Tempest Project" at Sam Bass Theatre in Round Rock. The set was gorgeous and the costumes were fantastic, and most of the acting was pretty darn good, especially for community theatre. The actress playing Caliban was really rather terrifying. Thax and I had a good talk afterwards about forgiveness and apologies and people who are vengeful and evil...whether a change of heart after you've done and said horrible things [to people who have said and done horrible things to you--I mean, Prospero was deposed and he and his innocent child were left for dead. I'd be pissed off, too.] is really all that forgiveable or not. He seems to think not. I wonder why he's still with me if he really feels that way.

I'd like to think or hope that forgiveness and redemption is possible, even for someone who spent a whole lot of time and energy on revenge and hatefulness...if something happens to move their hearts to pity and regret for what they've done, and they say they are sorry and do their best to make it right...that they can be forgiven.

but apparently not. Which...I knew that. I KNOW that. I really do. It would just be nice.

this was in my email this morning. Regret and pity and trying your best to make things right again...the past is gone. Sorry doesn't do shit.

Ah, well.

We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.


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Today's thought from Hazelden is:

Having loosened our grip on the past, we are free to reach for the future.
--Ann D. Clark

Everyday of our lives we think of some situation we wish we had handled differently. Perhaps we left a job we now miss, disciplined a child needlessly, or responded rudely to a friend. Our Fourth Step inventory abundantly details our many regrets, but the past is gone. We can't take back the job or the punishment or the rude responses. However, we can make certain the Tenth Step we do every night is not filled with similar regrets.

Recovery has given us a second chance. Let's not waste this gift by hanging on to what can't be changed. We all know what we don't like about our behavior in the past. That's all we need to remember when we decide how to behave in the present. We won't be ashamed in the future, if we take charge of our present.

Today is a new beginning. Whatever happened in my past need not control what I do with today. Today is mine to be proud of.