Howdy all. Tis a grand day to drag out the sidewalk chalk and do a little driveway art. This has been one of those days where I got to go to work instead of sitting around the house and getting in trouble.
I've been thinking a bit (yep, not usually a really bright thing for this drunk to do) about perception, gratitude and serenity. A little definition from a web page can give me the clinical definition: "Perception is the process by which organisms interpret and organize sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the world." That means to me that we humans organize everything about an event around us or an occurance that affects us into a neat little package and file it away.
One of the people that works for me made a comment earlier this week regarding an experiece where he had to wait along with about 30 other people two hours to get a new access badge for an area he works in. He said it in such a manner that it sounded like "how dare they".
In my pre-recovery days I would have probably either commiserated or or told him to quit whining - depending on how the hangover felt. Now the the program kicks in. My first thought was here is a highly paid technician sitting around for two hours doing nothing and getting paid for it. I asked him if he brought along any of the documents he needs to complete and worked on them? "Nope", he said. So I asked him, "Which would be easier to stomach, being paid for waiting in line for a badge or not being paid waiting in line for unemployment paperwork?" He said, "I didn't think about it that way."
He's a normie - and didn't think about it that way.
The point to this babble is the fact that how I focus and train my perception can drive my gratitude level in the right direction and my serenity to new sustainable heights. All those things that I used to (and still do at times) take for granted (my rights, if you will) are nothing but grains of sand in my hand. If I cup my hands gently I can carry them easily anywhere. If i grab them and squeeze tightly they ooze our of my grasp, lost to the wind. Whereas the bad things (like waiting in line) seem to stick to my hands.
By perceiving all these events (both the bad and good) as gifts and learning experiences I've found that I can calm my troubled heart and appreciate them as things that are also part of my recovery. Pass them on and let go as necessary.
Having to buy gas to go to work - sure glad to have a job. Medical bill co-pay, mortgage, electric, gas , internet bills - sure glad I got the money to pay them. People who depend on me - pleasure in service A wife - she loves me. God - he does too. And so on, forever. Amen
Serenity can prevail, even in the storm. I perceive that that is also something to be grateful for...
“I once complained that I had no shoes, but then I met a man who had no feet.”
Nuff said,
Dennis
