Wisdom Of The Rooms - 2021

[bluidkiti]

June 14

Quote of the Week

"I’ll never be all right until it’s all right now."

I’ve always lived waiting for some future time or event to make me happy. “When I meet ‘her,’ then I’ll be happy.” “As soon as I make enough money, then I’ll be all right.” “When I finally pay off my house, then I’ll feel secure.” Happiness, security, and feeling all right were always tied to something I didn’t have right now, and that meant that in the present I was always irritable, restless, or discontented. No wonder I drank all the time.

In recovery, I learned a whole new way to live, and I was given tools to help me be present. “One day at a time” was a huge help as I despaired at remaining sober forever. When I started worrying about not having enough money or health or companionship next month or next year, my sponsor would ask me if I had everything I needed right now. As we went through it, I admitted I had a roof over my head, money in my pocket, food to eat, and a whole fellowship for support. These and other tools helped me to stay present and appreciate that, right now, I was all right.

I once read a saying by Pascal that really resonated with me: “All man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone.” And that’s when I finally understood it all. Being able to be comfortable in my own skin, regardless of what’s going on, is the path to the happiness, security, and contentment I always sought in some future event. The miracle is that this feeling is available to me right now, right here. In fact, I already have it. Through working the Steps, I have discovered how to be all right, right now.