Saturday 9 January 2016

For Today - Keep it Simple

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.  - Hans Hoffman

Or as Dr. Bob said to Bill W.:  "Let's not louse this thing up.  Let's keep it simple."  I wonder if it is as simple as eat, pray, love.  This morning, I awoke a little before 4.30 a.m., hungry, restless with bad dreams, thirsty, anxious.  I fed the cat (she was hungry too).  I stretched.  I had a drink of water.  And I thought about eating something.  Then I thought about not wanting to wake J. up with a text departing from my plan for today.  So I took a big breath and went back to bed to sleep for another two hours.  Simple.

I find I have to still myself long enough to focus on the present thing.  Otherwise, my mind goes all over the place, thoughts interrupting thoughts, as I think of things I need to do, should have done, will do next...  My mental clutter exceeds the clutter of belongings in my house.  One thing at a time.  One day at a time. 

The prayer is simple:  "God, for decades I have been unable to handle my problems in a healthy, whole productive way.  Please let me turn them over to you." [paraphrasing, Big Book, p.251]

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