Today's Gift

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

When it comes to my feelings about the past, I might have found comfort in telling myself that I did the best I could at the time. Knowing this probably helped me get through some tough times and deal with my feelings of guilt.

Today, when I find myself feeling guilty about something I've done, I can still remind myself that I'm doing the best I can. With all my knowledge, growth, healing, and willingness, I will still make mistakes. I'm not perfect, nor do I strive to be. I'm doing the best I can do, day by day.

Today I will remind myself of this anytime I feel bad about something I've said or done.

You are reading from the book:

Time to Fly Free by Judith R. Smith

Time to Fly Free © 2001 by Judith R. Smith. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of Hazelden.

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Today's Gift

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

If you don't have any loyalty to what you are doing, you ought not be doing it.
-- Tom Harding

We understand loyalty to friends and family members, but does loyalty to an activity imply the same thing? To be loyal to an activity means to stick with it even when we hit the inherent snags. Let's consider a hobby for instance. Are we so frustrated when we can't track down a particular stamp or seem unable to complete the 5000 piece puzzle that we consider quitting the activity in disgust? If so, we probably lack the loyalty that Tom alludes to.

Each of us has to consider for ourselves whether or not we value this kind of loyalty when it comes to the "extracurriculars" in our lives. We're not failures if we decide to drop some hobby for another one. Sometimes we can't see that some interest doesn't fit us all that well until we get deep into it. What's more important is that we remain loyal to our values, whatever they are. When some activity loses its appeal, for any reason, and we continue to stay with it out of shame or embarrassment, we're not being loyal to that which is most important - ourselves.

Today, I'll ask myself if my hobbies suit my true interests.

You are reading from the book:

Keepers of the Wisdom by Karen Casey

Keepers of the Wisdom © 1996 by Karen Casey. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of Hazelden.

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