Random and Rambling Thoughts on this Day…

A lot is going through my mind on this day. I’ve found it’s helpful to put it all on paper. In this case, I’m at a keyboard and typing away to share my thoughts on what is going on in the world around us.

I’m working from school today for what will probably be the last day. We’ve prepared packets for three weeks for our students. They are to come by Thursday or Friday of this week to pick those up. We also made a video this morning to share with parents and students on how to be utilize those packets.

Tomorrow and Friday I will be officially off the clock. I worked Monday’s workday, which I wasn’t supposed to, so I’m taking off Thursday to make up for that day. I wasn’t scheduled to work on Friday, so no big deal there.

I’ve already filled out the form to work from home beginning on Monday. I currently don’t have any plans to return to school. I just don’t see that I really need to be here, when all the duties can be accomplished from a home computer. I’m not really paranoid, but I’m also aware I’m one of the oldest persons on campus and there’s no need to put myself at unnecessary risk.

Life has become like a scene from a science fiction movie….Surreal is the work I think of most often…then comes unprecedented…and a new word: draconian – especially harsh and severe. I’ll be exploring that word in a later post.

So here we are…the world as we know it will never be the same. I would say that this is bigger than 9-11 in the number of people it will affect and its ramifications for the future…

Life as we know it will never be the same!

David Lee

Daily Readings for Wednesday, March 18th

Meditation for the Day

Persistence is necessary if you are to advance in spiritual things. By persistent prayer, persistent, firm, and simple trust, you achieve the treasures of the spirit. By persistent practice, you can eventually obtain joy, peace, assurance, security, health, happiness, and serenity. Nothing is too great, in the spiritual realm, for you to obtain, if you persistently prepare yourself for it.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may persistently carry out my spiritual exercises every day. I pray that I may strive for peace and serenity.

From Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Safety

One of the long-term effects of living in a dysfunctional family – as children or adults – is that we don’t feel safe.

Much of what we call codependency happens because we don’t feel safe in relationships. This can cause us to control, obsess, or focus on the other person, while neglecting ourselves or shutting down our feelings.

We can learn to make ourselves feel safe and comfortable, as part of a nurturing, loving attitude toward ourselves.

Often, we get a feeling of safety and comfort when we attend Twelve Step meetings or support groups. Being with a friend or doing something nice for ourselves helps us feel protected and loved. Sometimes, reaching out to another person helps us feel safe. Prayer and meditation help us affirm that our Higher Power cares for us.

We are safe now. We can relax. Perhaps others haven’t been there for us in a consistent, trustworthy way, but we are learning to be there for ourselves.

Today, I will concentrate on making myself feel safe and comfortable.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie 

Daily Readings for Tuesday, March 17th

Meditation for the Day

Withdraw into the calm of communion with God. Rest in that calm and peace. When the soul finds its home of rest in God, then it is that real life begins. Only when you are calm and serene can you do good work. Emotional upsets make you useless. The eternal life is calmness and when you enter into that, then you live as an eternal being. Calmness is based on complete trust in God. Nothing in this world can separate you from the love of God.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may wear the world like a loose garment. I pray that I may keep serene at the center of my being.

From Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Empowering

You can think. You can feel. You can solve your problems. You can take care of yourself.

Those words have often benefited me more than the most profound and elaborate advice.

How easy it is to fall into the trap of doubting others and ourselves.

When someone tells us about a problem, what is our reaction? Do we believe we need to solve it for the person? Do we believe that that person’s future rests on our ability to advise him or her? That’s standing on shaky ground – not the stuff of which recovery is made.

When someone is struggling through a feeling, or a morass of feelings, what is our reaction? That the person will never survive that experience? That it’s not okay for someone to feel? That he or she will never get through this intact?

When a person is faced with the task of assuming responsibility for their life and behaviors, what is our response? That the person can’t do that? I must do it myself to save him or her from dissipating into ashes? From crumbling? From failing?

What is our reaction to ourselves when we encounter a problem, a feeling, or when we face the prospect of assuming responsibility for ourselves?

Do we believe in others and ourselves? Do we give power to people – including ourselves – and their abilities? Or do we give the power to the problem, the feeling, or the irresponsibility?

We can learn to check ourselves out. We can learn to think, and consider our response, before we respond. “I’m sorry you’re having that problem. I know you can figure out a solution. Sounds like you’ve got some feelings going on. I know you’ll work through them and come out on the other side.”

Each of us is responsible for ourselves. That does not mean we don’t care. It does not mean a cold, calculated withdrawal of our support from others. It means we learn to love and support people in ways that work. It means we learn to love and support ourselves in ways that work. It means that we connect with friends who love and support us in ways that work.

To believe in people, to believe in each persons inherent ability to think, feel, solve problems, and take care of themselves is a great gift we can give and receive from others.

Today, I will strive to give and receive support that is pure and empowering. I will work at believing in myself and others – and our mutual abilities to be competent at dealing with feelings, solving problems, and taking responsibility for ourselves.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie