Narcotics Anonymous

Just For Today - Daily Email Service

   August 7                                                The gratitude list

     "We focus on anything that isn't going our way and ignore all the
                            beauty in our lives."

                                                            Basic Text, p. 77

                           ----=----

   It's easy to be grateful when everything runs smoothly.   If we get a
   raise at work, we're grateful.  If we get married, we're grateful.  If
   someone surprises us with a nice present or an unasked favor, we're
   grateful.  But if we get fired, divorced, or disappointed, gratitude flies
   out the window.  We find ourselves becoming obsessed with the things that
   are wrong, even though everything else may be wonderful.

   This is where we can use a gratitude list.  We sit down with a pen and
   paper and list the people for whom we are grateful.   We all have people
   who've supported us through life's upheavals.  We list the spiritual
   assets we have attained, for we know we could never make it through our
   present circumstances without them.   Last, but not least, we list our
   recovery itself.  Whatever we have that we are grateful for goes on the
   list.

   We're sure to find that we have literally hundreds of things in our
   lives that inspire our gratitude.  Even those of us who are suffering from
   an illness or who have lost all material wealth will find blessings of a
   spiritual nature for which we can be thankful.  An awakening of the spirit
   is the most valuable gift an addict can receive.

                           ----=----

   Just for today:   I  will write a list of things, both material and
   spiritual, for which I am grateful.