Just in case you missed this for 6//25/2012

“Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.”

– John C. Maxwell

It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
—Ursula K. LeGuin

“He who angers you conquers you.”
–Elizabeth Kenny

A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it is committing another mistake.
–Confucius

“Making prompt amends is the fresh air of each new day.”
–Sandra Little

Don’t argue for other people’s weaknesses. Don’t argue for your own. When you make a mistake, admit it, correct it, and learn from it–immediately.
–Stephen Covey

Left to itself, nature takes ordinary garbage and transforms it into useful nutrients that help sustain life. It’s usually poor human action that makes garbage a problem.

Our mental and emotional garbage takes the forms of bad memories, festering resentments, and useless regrets. We waste time berating ourselves and others about bad decisions and experiences that are behind us.

The magic of the 12 Step program is that we can use it to transform this mental garbage into useful experience. A past mistake can become as asset when we share it with others. Pain and suffering can teach a lesson that helps all of us to grow. By forgiving others, a resentment can be turned into a friendship.

I’ll resolve today not to worry about garbage any longer than it takes to identify it and release it to my Higher Power for transformation.

Quote: When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that three of his fingers are pointing at himself.
—Louis Nizer

It’s so easy to blame others. Others are always making mistakes we can hide behind. That’s what blame is—hiding. When we blame others for our mistakes, we’re trying to hide our character defects.

It’s nobody else’s fault that we act the way we do. It’s our fault. We’re responsible for our actions.

And with the help of our Higher Power, we can change. We can turn over our character defects. Over time, we’re not afraid to learn about ourselves—even the parts we don’t like—because we want to know ourselves better.

Prayer for the Day: I pray for help in facing my character defects.

Action for the Day: I’ll think about the past week. I’ll list times I’ve used blame to hide from reality.