How often have I heard these powerful words at one of our group Depressed Anonymous meetings. In fact, it is oftener than one would think, seeing where most of the group members have been before opening the door into our fellowship.
Not only have we heard powerful stories of recovery but we also witness them with own eyes. By coming to meetings week after week, we begin to see the truth of the Promises as laid out for each of us who take that first step into recovery. In Higher Thoughts for Down Days I read that I am going to be secure in my belief that my life is going to get better.
Today is the day. Doing your best, living each day to the fullest is the art of living. Yesterday is gone forever, and we don’t know whether we will be here tomorrow. If we do a good job of living today, and if tomorrow does comes for us, then the chances are we will do a good job when it arrives – so why worry about it?
This makes sense to me. What about you? I know that the more I share myself with others, be that with my DA sponsor or with other members of our fellowship, that my life is beginning to change for the better. Also, the more I share with others the more spontaneous I become, and there are now some bright periods of my life beginning to appear in my life.
I believe that by living in the present reduces my trust in the past fears of yesterday or the anxious moments I thought I needed for tomorrow.
Knowing that others, who are just like me, can make it through the day with a greater amount of serenity and peace as they try to live in today-just for the next 24 hours.
We all believe that the more we turn our minds and wills toward God, the more God will turn his love and will for us in unmistaken ways and with our belief that God is truly with us.
AS Brad Cohen tells us in that great Hallmark Movie, FRONT OF THE CLASS, “Hope is hard to break.”
Hopeful people gather together on every continent on this planet. Their hope stems from a strong belief that with God’s help and support from their fellow members of DA (Or any other 12 Step mutual aid group) they become energized by people feeling better and coming more energized about trying to live their life with purpose and meaning.
Every Depressed Anonymous meeting starts with a statement on How Depressed Anonymous Works:
” You are about to witness the miracle of the group. You are joining a group of people who are on a journey of hope and who mutually care for each other. You will hear how hope, light and energy have been regained by those who were hopeless and in a black hole and tired of living. ”
In the Big Book of Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition, you can read story after story of those persons who have escaped from the prison of their isolation. These stories tell each of us that there is hope and you can have it too. If it has taken you a lifetime to find a healing way out of your depression, you then can appreciate those others who have made it-all now living with hope and trust.
SOURCES
(C) Depressed Anonymous, 3rd edition. (2011). Depressed Anonymous Publications.Louisville. Ky. (Personal stories section).
(C)I’ll do it when I feel better. (2017) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville, Ky.
(c) Higher Thoughts for Down Days: 365 daily thoughts and meditations for members of 12 step fellowship groups. (1998) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville.