Today's Gift - 07/16/2008

[Guest guest]

Today's thought from Hazelden is:Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, "It might have been."-- Greenleaf WhittierUnless we live in the now, we are in danger of suffering the agony of regret. We can't spend all our time thinking "life's not fair." We cannot afford to excuse everything with "what ifs?" We used those words constantly during the years we wasted on obeying compulsions we knew could destroy us.We remember the years before recovery and accept them as object lessons of what it could be like again if we become careless or complacent. But we don't regret them. Regret only leads to depression and perhaps a return to active addiction.We must stop dwelling on the impossibility of undoing the wrongs of yesterday. Instead, we must begin enjoying the "right things" that are now possible in recovery.It is impossible to relive my past. I can only create a good past now by living this day the best way I can, so that tomorrow I can look back without having to say "It might have been."

You are reading from the book:

Easy Does It by Anonymous

Easy Does It. Copyright 1999 by Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of Hazelden.

______________________________________________________________________ Please do not reply to this email.Today's Gift daily emails are provided at no cost by the Hazelden Foundation and are sent only to those who sign up for them.To prevent our emails from being blocked, add todaysgift@... to your Contacts or Address Book. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES:For instructions on how to change your email address or take yourself off the mailing list write to todaysgift@...To sign up for Today's Gift, visit:http://www.hazelden.org/registerCONTACT INFORMATION:Today's Gift feedback and questions - todaysgift@...Treatment program information - info@...Bookstore information - customersupport@...Or call us at 1- (in the U.S.) (outside the U.S.)

YOUR PRIVACY IS OUR PRIORITY:Read our online privacy policy