What Dreams May Come

As the New Year gets closer, many of us are looking back at the past year. Looking back at was and what wasn’t, what was lost, and what was gained. We are also looking forward to what may be in the New Year. How many of our dreams will come true, this upcoming year. Well more than likely most of our dreams will remain just that, A Dream. That is unless you do something about it. There is nothing wrong with dreams, without dreams of better things where would the world be. However like most of histories dreamers, they all had one thing in common. They took action. No dream is too big to become reality, however all dreams need help to become reality. How to make a dream into reality is Simple. Not necessarily easy, yet simple. First off it needs to be broken down into manageable goals. Step by step goals towards the manifestation of the dream. These goals need to be broken down into manageable, achievable goals. As these goals are achieved one by one in the proper order, the dream will become manifest into a reality.
This is the difference between a dreamer and a doer. A dreamer just sits there and dreams the dream and wishes for it to come true. A doer dreams the dream and takes the action to make it a reality.

Remember God does not create garbage

Time to prepare for The New Year

Ah yes now in between Christmases and new years, the time when a few are relaxing, many are getting ready to return to work or have returned. Yet not quite in full steam, but a lesser pace as another holiday is days away. Many are in a very contemplative state, some are not so relaxed. However in form or another most are at least taking a cursory look at the past year, some looking at the past as a whole. However all basically contemplating the future in one degree or another. This I believe to be a good practice in general. As long as in does not fall into a morbid obsession of beating oneself up about past mistakes, or not taking to extensive aspects into flights of fantasy about the future. It was once said it is only the insane that does not question the past or their own actions. I believe it to be a healthy practice to regularly look at ones past and acknowledge one’s error. For you can’t fix a problem if you remain ignorant of it. We are but human; we all make mistakes, and however the only real mistake is in not acknowledging the fact and striving to fix it. As well we see how or what we would like to change, and through prayer and meditation have gleamed some idea of our God’s will for us. In this we set for goals to achieve these changes, always remembering that these may not be written in stone to remain ever flexible, to adjust to the will of our God. However mostly to honour our God, and ourselves, by accepting our God’s gift of the present.
Remember God does not create garbage

The real gifts of Christmas

As we leave Christmas behind, we often reflect on how we perceived it. If you are anything like me, we look to see if we achieved what we set out to do. For me it was how can I show love to those in my life and practice the spirit of love and giving. This is a difficult task given the materialistic world we live in, how do I be giving without being overly materialistic, and on the same note how to be less materialistic without being cheap?? Especially when there is not a surplus of monetary fund’s to begin with. Well I tried given baking to most friends relatives and neighbours, presents of materials to the very closest, my significant other and step-daughter I attempted to fill their immediate material needs. This was not so difficult in doing with the wife; however the step-daughter, now there is a different story, a young teenager where all the material brand name stuff is so important at that age. Well without going to the poor house I believe I faired okay. Yes I would have liked to give more materialistically to my loved ones as well as close friends, however it was just not in my means. As well as the fact that Christmas is not about the materialistic, it is about the spirit of giving and brotherly love. However when I do have the means I love to indulge in the giving, and I make no apologies for that. I love the feeling you get from the expressions on some ones face when they get an unexpected present. As well as the look when the gift has been chosen to the desires of the intended recipient. However that being said this year I received three of the best gifts that I have ever received, I had left the area where I spent most of my recovery just about three years ago. However in the last couple of months we have been spending time there and renewing some old friendships. Well in the days leading up to Christmas we traveled to our old town to deliver some baked presents. As we visited one dear friend and her family, we had occasion to go on the deck and indulge in a cigarette when this beautiful soul of a lady informed me that she was really grateful and happy that we had renewed our friendship and how special it was to her. I could tell how heartfelt this statement was to her. It touched me very deeply inside as this lady does not give out superficial compliments or genuine statements. For her to say something like this so freely was a rare gift. However my elation was not to end there. Another mutual friend also came by, one with whom I had an estranged friendship with which was also simultaneously being renewed. This wonderful young spirit, informed me how glad she was that we had renewed our friendship and that I was instrumental in showing her unconditional love and friendship and some guidance in her early days. Though I do believe that she gives me for too much credit in her recovery (for I was just an instrument of God at the right time) it was still so touching for me to hear the sentiment and love in this statement. I was overwhelmed. Yes I said three gifts, not that these where not very dear and special to me. They were given by dear friends and as such a little bias and clouded in the compliment as we are dear friends. I know that I probably see my dear friends better than others and I believe this may be the case in how they see me. This however no less diminishes the honour I feel from their words. However the third of my great gifts came from the words of my step daughter. She was out doing some last minute shopping with the wife; after they had gotten home we were discussing some family matters, when my wife told her daughter to repeat to me what she had said to her. Well to shorten the whole story a little, what she repeated was that her best Christmas ever was when she was in grade six, and she came and spent it with me and her mother. As in her words it was one of her best Christmases because, I said something like” we were going to do a real Christmas, we did the whole tree thing together and watched Christmas movies, went to midnight mass, and to me just did the whole family thing, To which we have tried to continue, and too which she still likes, (teenager has totally gotten her yet). These gifts nothing of a material nature involved, were/are my favourite. The things money can’t buy. Is this truly not what The Spirit of Christmas is all about? To me I will always have those treasured memories that only time will fade a slight bit, however will never tarnish or be broken or lost.
Remember God does not create garbage

Post Christmas Day

Here it is Boxing Day, another Christmas in the books. I hope everyone had a safe and sober Christmas. Well here we are, another Christmas day gone. How many of you are going to endure the traffic and crowds of Boxing Day shopping? You know now that the actual Christmas day itself is done. Does not mean the spirit and the holiday spirit is over. For most they have today and tomorrow, some even the whole week. To relax take in the spirit of Christmas, it does not have to end with the end of Christmas day. Now is the time to sit back and relax and share more intimately with friends and/or family, especially now that the anticipation and anxiety of the day is gone. Now is the time for tending the ties that bind, the love, the closeness, the friendships. It is also time to be reflective of the past year, the successes the failures the lessons and the gains. To focus oneself for the coming year and the lessons challenges, it holds. To see where we have been and to ponder on where we would go. To connect with our God, and seek guidance on where God would have us do and/or be. To drink in your God’s strength, guidance, love and especially conscious contact that we may see clearly his will for us. Well until the morrow
Remember God does not create garbage

jingle bells

Merry Christmas

I do not mean to offend those who are of different beliefs. Primarily those whose religious persuasion does not recognize Christmas. I value your beliefs and believe them to be just as real to you and your belief’s to be just as relevant and of God as those that choose to recognize Christmas. However I was raised Catholic, and Christmas has always been part of my life. Even though I choose today not to be Catholic or a member of any recognized formal Christian religion. I do choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus. However I do not promote or detract from any religion on this site. I choose here to recognize Christmas. With that said.
Here it is Christmas Eve, one more sleep. Well 2 for me as it early Friday morning as I write this 1:20 A.M... I am becoming quite anxious, and excited to celebrate Christmas. Yes I have found the spirit and Joy. Yet as I anticipate Christmas, I also find myself wanting time to slow, As Christmas eve will pass so fast and then Christmas will be here, and just as quickly it will be over far too soon. The joy and harmony and all that goes with it will all be but a memory. Albeit another cherished one. The build up is long and fraught with anxiety, stress, planning, only to over in a blink of an eye. Or so it feels.

This also sets me to pondering, how strange it seems to me that basically a nation, the nation I call home is basically for all intensive purposes considered a Christian nation. I state this as the government and law of the land has Christmas day legislated as a statutory holiday. However as a Christian nation, based upon the recognized Christian idea that Christ was god and Christmas being the birth of Christ and there by being the most significant day in history, possibly by this religious assumption the most important day in history. Definitely a day that changed the course of history more than any other to date. Yet it is only given one day. Even then some have to work on this day and as such in reality the world does not stop and definitely the search for monetary gain is more pronounced than at any other time of the year. Not to detract from any other religious event for other religions. It would appear that nothing Christmas or any other significant religions holidays are given very much true devotion and reverence, as they are due. However basically no matter the religion involved or aspect. All are just categorized as just another day basically, with some acknowledgement. However when one sits back and studies how many wars and lives lost due to religious conflict and how strenuously would tell you how devout they are and that there way is the only. What reverence is truly given compared to how much time and energy is spent on acquiring possessions and/or money. Just a thought.
Remember God does not create garbage

Addiction Roots

By accident or design, you stumbled into a 12 Step meeting or met someone in recovery and, through the fog of your addiction, you’ve managed to hear a few things: “one step at a time,” “easy does it,” or “let go and let God,” but none of it makes much sense to you. If you’re just starting out in a tentative sober state, your life and relationships are most likely in a shambles, your job lost, children gone, husband/wife fed up and disgusted. You have played the great pretend game every addict is familiar with “I don’t give a shit!” But deep down you know you’re just lying.

The problems of our addictions are rooted in the toxic shame of our childhood, trust in our families has been shattered, boundaries violated, and we’re feeling confused, alone and afraid. This is common in addicts and dysfunctionals – those impacted with personality and substance abuse disorders Somewhere along the line we’ve gotten a message and internalized it -- that we are defective and hopelessly flawed. We know that our addiction is abnormal, that it’s a beast that’s gotten loose and is consuming everything in our lives -- yet we continue to let this beast roam wherever it chooses.

Our addiction is the manifestation of how we feel about ourselves inside. It tells us that we feel less than and are not worth much effort. How can that be, you say, when I feel so good when I’m getting high? If you felt good about yourself to begin with, you wouldn’t need to mind or mood-alter with drugs, other substances or behaviors. The end result for many of us is that we jail ourselves, prostitute ourselves and get ourselves into abusive and/or impossible situations. Is this how you would treat someone you loved? Would you treat a 5-year old this way? You would be horrified. Yet this is how we treat or have treated ourselves. This is the nature of addiction.

In examining the true nature of our problems, our addictions and dysfunctions, what do we see? What patterns come leaping out to derail our spiritual progress? What stops us from getting the help we need? There is something inside of us that wants to get better, then why can’t we? Is there a step that can help us through this tough beginning time where we don’t know whether to leap off the train, risk breaking our legs, or riding this recovery train a few more miles and see what happens.

Take the ride – you’re worth it. Listen, listen and listen with an open mind. Share, share and share what you’re feeling. Is this hard for you? I was so shamed I only went to candlelight meetings and shared in the dark. After about 3 months, I graduated to the early evening meetings. No, it won’t be easy at first. Get someone to hold your hand. That’s what so great about 12 Step fellowship – someone will be there for you – if you hold out your hand. Is your recovery going easy for you? Or are you fighting it tooth and nail?
Lynda Lyons

remember God does not create garbage

A Visit to the P.L.O.M. Tree

Yes today I thought I would take a walk down to the ole P.L.O.M. tree. Yes you know the one, the old tree we all like to visit once in awhile. That good ole P.L.O.M. Tree, you know the Poor Little Ole Me Tree. Yep that`s the one. I was just stewing on how I just seem to have that Christmas spirit and I don`t really see it, coupled with that I`m not finding the job I want for the wages I want. When I ran into my own little version of `I complained of having no shoes, until I met a man with no feet`. I met this guy who I used to work with; well no exactly he delivers supplies to where I used to work. Well we get to talking, And I tell him what`s going on for me. Then he proceeds to tell me about his life in the past week. Well let`s see, he starts with last Wednesday, His cat that he and his family (wife and kids) have had for 12 years has diabetes, well last Wednesday the family cat went into a diabetic coma. They took him to the vet; the vet could not do anything so they had to put the family cat of 12 years to sleep. Now you’re saying, OOHH that`s sad, yet not really that bad, he has a job, a house and family. ` Hold on now we just started. Well Thursday the smoke alarms goes and a couple of the outlets in the house spark and blow out. Well it seems that a circuit in the electrical panel has fried out and blown out 2 or 3 outlets they all have to replace as well as the electrical panel and the wiring all checked. However we are not done yet, Friday night the furnace goes on the fritz, the furnace isn`t working and there is no heat, Well he finally gets a guy to come out and the motor on his furnace is gone. That`s not the best part yet this guy wants to be paid in cash, and after phoning around find a motor for the furnace, says it going to cost $200.00 for the motor, make a long story short the motor only cost $120.00 So all this stuff going on and then repair guy trying to stick it to you as well. Pretty great week he`s having, wouldn`t you say? Well hang on a minute, because on Sunday buddy goes to pick a few things up and, wham, a new driver on the phone takes a left turn right into the front end of my friends SUV. No word of a lie this is a true story. Well how`s that for a Merry Christmas? You know as he said all he could do was laugh, and say what ya going to do É So how bad is your life after all.
Remember God does not make garbage

Christmas Spirit

Here we are just 3 days away from Christmas Eve. Now I know I’ve been blogging on Christmas Issues, as well as the joys and wonders of Christmas. To just get out and enjoy it. However here it is just 3 days from Christmas eve, I not quite sure what it is, I’m not depressed or down in anyway, life is okay and I’m striving for more however I’m okay where my life is, I’m trusting the process and my higher power. However that being said I don’t have that Christmas enthusiasm or that gleeful Christmas spirit, and I am not seeing it out in public. I thought maybe it was just me; however a few of my friends and acquaintances have mentioned the same. I’m not sure if perhaps part of it for me is the lack of snow where I am, as I grew up with snow on the ground during Christmas. It also appears to me there is less community spirit these days as opposed to when I was growing up. There are not the school Christmas pageants there were when I was growing up, nor the little craft fairs. Not the little community activities. No carollers. Not as many houses with lights. Very little Christmas spirit on the streets and malls. Oh there are activities to be had if you can afford it as they are quite pricey. However not much affordable for the average Joe, or the struggling family. Maybe it’s just me but have they finally managed to commercialize Christmas as to dampen the real Christmas spirit. To take away the community and family aspects of Christmas unless you can afford it. I know, sadly enough, that times are different and the aspect of family and the family unit are rare these days perhaps should be on the extinction list, as well as community and community spirit, perhaps this is part of it we have all gotten city mentality that we no longer know are neighbours, we no longer look out for and care for each other. Perhaps it is these things that are our society that has dampened the Christmas spirit. However I even notice not as many specials on TV, and/or Christmas stories in the dailies just repeats. I hope that I am wrong and it is just me. However whichever is the case I just need to get out and be more involved with people and help create the spirit. If I truly want it, I need to be part of making it happen.

Remember God does not create garbage