Topic discussion: Gratitude

[KitchenWitch]

Those of us in recovery certainly have much to be grateful for. How do each of you express gratitude in your daily lives?

I keep a daily journal of 5 things I am grateful for on that given day. Some days I struggle with finding the 5 things, other days I struggle with narrowing it down to 5.

[NMDemDist2]

1. gratitude is what I look for when it seems life is spiraling out of

control.

repeat step one, make a gratitude list

life gets better almost immediately

:hug:

[ismnotwasm]

2. I remember where I came from

What it felt like, what my drinking did to my children. I feel a lot of joy in life itself, because everything looks different in recovery. Colors are brighter, scenery moves me stuff like that. I try to explain to people that being sober is the best acid trip I ever took in my life, everything has meaning to me. A lot of serendipity. My graditude is best expressed by giving back to others, freely, not only in my recovery program, but in my daily life. You know, that leave the world a little better than when you came theory.

[yardwork]

3. That's a beautiful post

I try to remember to express gratitude to my Higher Power twice a day, when I get up and when I go to bed.

Somebody in an AA meeting said that there were really only three kinds of prayers, and the first two are the most important:

Prayers of praise.
Prayers of thanksgiving.
Prayers of supplication, in which we ask the Higher Power for something.

I try to keep my requests along the lines of "let me do the right thing and walk in harmony."

The rest of the time I try to do a lot of praising and giving thanks. It's good to be alive. I might not be living if I hadn't stopped drinking, and I remember that every day.

[ismnotwasm]

4. Yes I do something like that too

"Let me stay on the right path" It's funny because I work on a transplant unit now. It's almost like I was led directly there, following my path. Those who die donate their livers sometimes to people like me, for a physical second chance at life. I got a spiritual second chance as well, and it's good for me to remember that. I'm agnostic,(I should say a seeker) but I pray anyway. My husband, also in recovery, always prays for guidence and protection, and I like that.

[NMDemDist2]

5. Off the "gratitude" topic, I was struck by a speaker in meeting once,

speaking on the 11th Step, he said the steps told us exactly how to pray

..... praying only for the knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry it out.

that made it pretty simple for me.

[Joe Chi Minh]

7. You know, that sounds

uncommonly like people who have come back from the brink of death, as a result of some accident or disease they had. It's as if it was a new world, with the things they used to take for granted, seeming quite special.

[Droopy]

6. Today I am grateful for

My family
Sore muscles
The YMCA
Chewing gum
Gatorade

I will always be grateful for my family because I would not be here without them. I've struggled with mental illness for a big part of my life and they have always been there for me when I needed help.

Sore Muscle because they tell me that the exercises that I've been doing have been effective.

The YMCA for giving me a cheap place to exercise.

Chewing gum for helping me to quit smoking.

Gatorade because it's better for me than beer. Tastes better, too.

[RetroLounge]

8. My gratitude list is usually pretty long.

From a homeless suicidal street drunk to a working guy with a wife, 2 kids and a mortgage, there's tons to be grateful about.

Gratitude is an action, which is why I stay active in the program.

RL