Many of us, in trying to run away from our essential aloneness, have abused alcohol, work, drugs, food, money, and entertainment. In spite of our frantic activity, we have continued to feel "alone in a crowd," "alone in our dreams," and "lonely in our marriages."
These experiences should prove we cannot successfully avoid coming to terms with our aloneness. The sooner we accept responsibility for our lives, the sooner we will stop inflicting unnecessary pain on ourselves.
In accepting our aloneness, we accept that no one can protect us from ourselves - and that no one can live our lives for us. "Aloneness" simply means that we cannot depend on others for our joy or sorrow. We are the authors of our actions, attitudes, and experiences and not the "victims" of fate or circumstance.
Today I will not be afraid of my aloneness. I will accept total responsibility for my attitudes, actions, or neglects. I will not seek unnecessary pain by replying on what others say or do to make me happy.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Thanks for the simple wisdoms you provide, Q x I'm recently realising that A.A. is not trying to detract from my identity or have me transformed into any type of clone. My suspicions are allayed as I think it was only my pride standing in the way of being able to change & allow credit to A.A. as well as to myself. A.A. may provide the guidelines but I'll do the walking. A.A. has taught me that I can have a God of my own understanding & it is this that has helped me to accept my aloneness & my ability to ask for help when I need to too. A.A. has not tried to rescue me (with a nod towards one of your earlier posts) it has provided answers & possibilities through the shares people give of their own experiences & interpretations of messages to pass on. I have been left to find my own way & it's this that has helped me carve a Danielle~shaped niche in the world. I've realised how intensely self-centred I am too. I always knew this but never realised accepting it could be a useful thing & that, besides me, there were lots of other self-centred people in the world. A.A. teaches me how to accept this too & how to use it as a springboard to self~responsiblity. If you are going to be self-centred, you may as well use it & help others by passing on what you've been figuring out without thinking you've actually got all of the answers. Cuz none of us has! I'm happy to be alone now. I don't feel lonely. I feel safe, individual & very much a part of something greater than me. I don't need to depend on anybody else but myself. God is inside me & speaks through the people I come into contact with. As soon as I accept my self-centredness I'm able to let go & listen to others. In this way, we never have to be lonely. We offer each other so much. Thanks for the post, Q. Thanks for being here everyone x Danielle xxxx
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
