Thursday, March 22, 2012

Affirmations

God made me.
I exist.
This is my life.
I deserve it.
I shall have it.
I do have it.
!

Feelings Work Today

I feel:

Wanted - L.
Playful - life
Relieved - my visit yesterday AND acceptance via divorce
Respected - work people
Amorous - L
Ready - for London, for relationship with L, for everything
Joyous -
Sensual -
Loving - all 3, L.
Hopeful - and more - life
Open - and relievedly so
Brave - to do the things I have to do
Sexy - L

Baffled - food stuff
Powerless - food stuff

Uncertain - L. Insecurities creeping in. Trying to keep them at bay
Bothered - the ickidy stuff I have to do
Delighted - L and this new aspect of my life, with him

Somewhat secure - somewhat

Worthy - because I am a really good person
Better - than before!
Alive - and loving it
Gleeful - like lighthearted and positively gleeful!
Supported - by L yesterday
Gratified - by it all
Welcomed - into L's home and bed, by him
Triumphant - over life's visisitudes
Awed - by being in love
Valued - by L and by friends
Trusting - in L. Mostly trusting, anyway.

Sacred - thank God.
Blessed - in countless ways. And very grateful.
Whole - because I am
Loved - by L. And by students
Welcoming - of L. And of this day. And of life
Fine - yay
Cheerful - Finally!
Free - no cheater, beater, user, stealer, addict in my house! AND Free to do what the fuck I want!
Amazed - at the magnificent twist in my life that is L. So grateful that I've met him.
Healthy - because I am. Lucky me!
Glorious - just glorious!
Empowered - to be able to be independent, and do all that is needed
Grateful - for such much!
Thrilled - about life. And about L.

5 Good Things about Me:

1. Compassion
2. Humor
3. Hair
4. Conscience
5. Openness

Readings

For Today:

"Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers." Victor Hugo

"Before finding OA, I could not have imagined entering a room full of strangers and telling them ho it feels to be a compulsive overeater. Feelings may be freely expressed in group therapy, for example, bur id i am the only compulsive overeater in the room, I am a stranger to the others. The great peril I face is something they do not share and can never understand.
that is why, in their divinely inspired wisdom, the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous struggled to keep AA for alcoholics. As Bill W. pointed out, all we have to share is our experience; what we have not experienced, we cannot share.

For today: The great peril of compulsive overeating makes sisters and brothers of all of us in Overeaters Anonymous."

--

Voices of Recovery:

"Getting out of my own way gives me the freedom to rise to the highest level of which i am capable." For Today, p. 280

"I see the details and fret over them; my Higher Power sees the big picture. This is my Higher Power's plan for me:
To be free of fear;
To march after every single dream;
To recognize where my passion is;
To let my passion loose;
To be strong of mind, body, and spirit;
To grasp for all the good things that could be mine;
To love unreservedly;
To keep the real priorities in front of me;
To experience joy without limits.
When I am able to accept that this is my Higher Power's will for me, I see the need to stay out of the picture. My plan wasn't nearly as good."

Yay! Beautiful! On so many levels!

--

In This Moment:

"In This Moment, I see and believe.

I attended a retreat this year in a beautiful lodge nestled on a mountaintop. Although people around me talked about the wonderful view, I was unable to see it because of the foggy weather. My recovery was like that at first. People told their stories of recovery. I heard how my view of life would change by working the Steps. i couldn't use it at first; all I could see was the fog. I slowly began to recognize the obvious recovery of others in my group. I worked the Steps and slowly but steadily, the fog lifted. Now, I reverse the old saying, 'seeing is believing' into 'believing leads to seeing.'"

--

The Language of Letting Go

"Letting Go of Being a Victim

It's okay to have a good day. Really.
It's okay to be doing okay and to feel like our life is manageable and on track.
Many of us have learned, as part of our survival behaviors, that the way to get the attention and approval we want to be victims. if life is awful, too difficult, unmanageable, too hard, unfair, then others will accept, like, and approve of us, we think.
We may have learned this from living and associating with people who also learned to survive by being a victim.
We are not victims. We do not need to be victimized. We do not need to be helpless and out of control to get the attention and love we desire. in fact, the kind of love we are seeking cannot be obtained that way.
We can get the love we really want and need by only owning our power. We learn that we can stand on our own two feet, even though it sometimes feels good to lean a little. We learn that the people we ARE leaning on are not holding us up. They are standing next to us.
We all have bad days - days when things are not going the way we'd like, days when we have feelings of sadness and fear. But we can deal with our bad days and darker feelings in ways that reflect self-responsibility rather than victimization.
It's okay to have a good day too. We might not have as much to talk about, but we'll have more to enjoy.

God, help me let go of my need to be a victim. Help me let go of my belief that to be loved and get attention i need to be a victim. Surround me with people who love me when I own my power. Help me start having good days and enjoying them."

Good!

==

My 100 Gratitudes Today

I am grateful:

1. That I didn’t jump off that terrace.
2. That I didn’t take those pills.
3. That I didn’t lie down behind that car, backing up, in the snow.
4. That I am grateful I didn’t.
5. That I have done all this spiritual work.
6. That I spoke honestly with my sponsor this morning, about how lazy I’ve been getting with it lately.
7. That I faced that with myself too.
8. That sponsor helped me so much.
9. I know that I *must * keep up this work.
10. And I’m grateful, as it IS something I MUST do, that it is actually pleasant to do anyway.
11. And that I’m recommitted to it.
12. That, as one of the interferences has been my beloved friend M, and her morning phone calls, which I do love + want to help her(!), so I’m grateful that I discussed that with sponsor too.
13. And that sponsor said that service is the heart of our recovery. To NOT stop that. Just helped me think about finding another time to do the spiritual work (the kind that *isn’t * service). Good.
14. And, gulp, sponsor said must put off the love. (I’m in love with L. I am). NOOOOOOO! We talked. And talked. I fought this one – a lot. Was crazy enough to be willing to give up program to keep L. BUT AM AWARE THAT IS C-R-A-Z-Y!!!! And grateful that I am.
15. CoDA, well that meeting has been stopped. But I now just call it “feelings work” and still do that stuff, I think. Or I’ll concentrate more on the other. Probably still both. They work for me.
16. I am grateful to remember that this combination works for me.
17. And to know that without keeping self in fit spiritual condition, I am doomed. Truly doomed.
18. So will keep spiritually fit. Even though all I WANT to do is be with L (sigh).
19. But I am grateful to have just thought of this specifically, too: If I lose or stop improving (stagnate) my spiritual fitness, I will not be able to have ANY healthy relationship, including with L.
20. And so, my sponsor finally did say – you are able to be in love, when it DOES NOT INTERFERE with your keeping spiritually fit.
21. So we shall see.
22. I am grateful that I bought that expensive card and picked it carefully. And wrote the two sentences that I wrote.
23. I’m grateful that it got to him so quickly! (one day!)
24. And that he LOVED it. It was a bird. Beautiful. Sparkly but NOT glitter (hence the expense: ) But I KNEW he would love it.
25. And he did.
26. And he loved loved loved the two sentences I wrote.
27. And I know they were mushy but appropriate.
28. Today the team will write up our proposal for our summer grant work.
29. I think we will get the money.
30. Plus it shouldn’t be too unpleasant to do.
31. Plus the kids will DEFINITELY benefit from it next year (and after) : )
32. It is warm in here right now, but with a little cool air coming in from outside.
33. I will see the doctor tomorrow about this horrible cough.
34. She will help me. (She HAS TO! I’M GOING TO LONDON NEXT THURSDAY!)
35. *I’m going to London next Thursday! *
36. And I shall be with Thich Nhat Hahn!
37. And after those 4 days, I shall tour around a bit on my own.
38. And I shall be fed veganly for he four days of the TNH course (it is included in the price).
39. And then I shall find inexpensive, yummy, vegan, Indian food to eat.
40. And it will nourish me.
41. And I will enjoy it.
42. And I won’t need to buy anything in London.
43. And for the first 4 days I will call NO ONE!
44. Then, I think I’ll surprise L. with a call on day 5. Or, maybe not at all.
45. And I WILL sleep at night! (Right?)
46. That I had healthy whole grain bread and organic crunchy p. b. this morning.
47. And after a like 2-month “plateau,” I have finally lost another 7 pounds.
48. And I’m eating fruits.
49. And veggies.
50. And whole grains like Ezekial bread
51. Barley
52. Bulgur – which I really love
53. Bran cereals
54. Brown rice
55. Whole-grain whet bread
56. Mixed grains greads
57. Corn cereals (that don’t need hfcs!)
58. And I am able to make these choices. Very fortunate indeed. And very grateful.
59. Jacquie Lawson Animated e-card site
60. There has been no gossip around here about my divorce! It’s almost unbelievable. I am so grateful for this caliber of people. That they are not gossiping about it.
61. My iPhone. I love it!
62. That I can have that kind of luxury.
63. That I am healing. Healing. I am healing! (Divorce-wise).
64. I expect a good weekend this weekend. I remember so vividly when I expected nothing good ever again. Thank you, God, for this amazing change.
65. L. I can’t imagine a more wonderful or more welcome surprise in my life. It’s like I’ve been better. Okay. Happy even. But now, I’ve been eased into a soft-as-a-cloud elevator, and gently lifted into paradise. SO grateful.
66. And that I was better FIRST! BEFORE this! So that my whole life is NOT dependent on L! And I must hold onto that!
67. And I will! And now it’s 3/22
68. Tomorrow, I get to go to a class rather than teach one.
69. And to do some MUCH NEEDED things around here.
70. And Sat. I see my L.
71. And his family!
72. And I stay over
73. And I had a lovely visit with a female after school yesterday. Very helpful. Not at liberty to say more here now.
74. I am free. I will soon be free even of ties with J.
75. ***I will never ever be an “indentured servant * again!
76. I will never have an emotional abuser in my home again.
77. Or a physical one.
78. Or an addict.
79. Or a cheater.
80. Or a tricker.
81. Or a stealer.
82. I will be in London Thursday evening!
83. M. has given me a bracelet with beads and some kind of Asian writing I’m sorry I don’t know which kind and a lotus
84. Yesterday, I was perspiring all day. And lots of body things happening when I got home at long last. And what it felt like – was like when you have a high fever and then it reaches the point where for a day you sweat and sweat and toss and turn and then – poof – it’s gone. It’s like you’ve sweated it out.
85. ***That’s what I feel I’ve done with the J. situation! I’ve sweated it out!
86. I’ll do what I can for financial fairness.
87. And then I’ll move on.
88. On. And up. And away. And up some more. I think I have really had a body-releasing sweaty breakthrough! Oh thank you, God! And friends. Including you.
89. The visit I had yesterday, was with a friend who has a beautiful and very happy family and some money and a happy life and a beautiful smile. And I’m so grateful that she does have all this.
90. And I’m grateful that I can be grateful for it on her behalf.
91. I will plant flowers soon! Or pay someone to. Either way lol.
92. And make sure the outside is cleaned up.
93. My hfs. I’m so grateful for my hfs.
94. And stomach hunger. Which I’ve been allowing myself to follow of late! : )
95. I have a life now! I have a life now! Thank you, God!
96. That L and I were able to help Jo last night, when she was stuck alone in her car in a dark, chilly, and foggy parking lot when her car wouldn’t start.
97. We kept her company on a 3-way phone call for the hour until they came. I’m so glad. Because I could hear the stress in my new friend’s voice.
98. That I am a compassionate person.
99. That I love L.
100. M and her girls.

Monday, March 19, 2012

I've Got It - I've Got It - I Think (for today!:) I've Finally GOT It!

Person of first importance in my life:
Me!

(Person of second importance in my life, is, quite frankly, L.
Followed by doggie, who is not in actuality a person; and students, friends and other loved-ones - not in that order)

Phew!

Affirmations

God made me.
I am a creation of God and His universe.
I am good enough.
I have enough.
I am enough.
I am blissfully happy.

Feelings

Gratefulness!
Happiness!
Hope!
Ecstasy!
Tiredness!
Looking forward to helping M. tonight, after her surgical procedure, and
happy to be able to help with her precious girls
and *hoping to get some sleep!*
Grateful for veggies!
And more weight loss!

Grateful for the influence my relationship with L. is having on my eating!

And that I'll have French lesson today!

*****not worried****** SO RARE!

5 Good Things about Me:
1. I am sexual
2. I am orgasmic
3. I am affectionate
4. I am able to have an open mind and learn and grow and change, like when M. pointed out - and it took great courage on her part - what I had been doing that could have sabotaged my relationship with dear L, or even hurt him.
5. I am funny

Thank you, God.

God, I offer my self to thee. To build with me and to do with me as thou wilt. Relieve me of the burden of self, that I may better do thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help, of they power, they love, and thy way of life. May I do thy will always. Amen.

God, please give me a good day. Thank you for life. Please help me use this day to help others. Amen.