Start Fresh

When I fall short of a goal, or procrastinate past the point of good reason, my thinking & mood can often go dark to a self-punishing, glass half empty place. There will usually be a sigh & shoulder shrug with an internal dialogue that says, "You messed up again. You'll have to start all over again." Instead, I can employ a great recovery technique suggested by my sponsor --- Start Fresh. I can summon the courage of the fictional movie character, Scarlett O'Hara, who perked herself up to go on with life in the face of despair, by saying, " After all, tomorrow's another day!" Over the years, I have found the start fresh approach a very useful tool in combating the disease of alcoholism, addiction & crippling co-dependency.

Each morning the disease almost always rushes in before I arise, sometimes it can mix in with my morning coffee and suddenly I am caught unawares. If I am not vigilant, this negativity can set the tone for the entire day. What can I do to bring feelings and words of love, patience, kindness & tolerance into my mental continuum? If I can start fresh & reset each day then I have a chance of employing healthy self-care. Only then can I be of real service to my fellows both in an out of the 12-step recovery rooms.

Visualizing a mid-20th century "Etch-a-Sketch" kids toy, I can take action and shake up & off the afflictive thoughts or compulsions before they have time to take root and ruin my day for myself and others. However, if the disturbance is so strong, then I must pay attention and meditatively sit with the feelings in a non-judgemental manner. From experience, I know that it will pass. I can also Get Out of Doors into the Great Out Doors in the spirit of "move a muscle, change a thought." Alternatively, I can use an old-fashioned kitchen timer for 10-15 minutes and just let the feelings come --- the good, bad and the ugly. When the timer rings, it's another opportunity to Start Fresh. I accept and love myself today just as I am. I can Start Fresh anytime I choose.

Erika Whirlwind