Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul Daily Inspirations (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (31 page)

Og Mandino

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
20

T
he flowers had an odd, unnatural appearance as the shopkeeper lifted them from their shipping box. Tiny nets captured the largest blooms, squeezing them inward like miniature straightjackets. She prepared a place for them and then patiently, gently, she pulled the netting away. With their bindings removed, the petals burst open, revealing hidden beauty and fragrance. Recovery removes the confinements that hinder me from experiencing life’s full bloom.

Rhonda Brunea

A single rose can be my garden . . . a single friend, my world.

Leo Buscaglia

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
21

I
watched the rain bouncing on the sun deck through my kitchen window. I focused on heavy clouds and raindrops snaking down the glass as I absently washed the dishes. I settled on the dullness of the day and let my mood reflect the vision.

My melancholy was interrupted by the movement of a squirrel teetering on a brittle branch of our apple tree. An apple dangled like aChristmas ornament just beyond his grasp. I watched himlose his balance as he reached for it. Undaunted, he regained his footing and tried again. The branch swayed with his effort and the apple bounced to the ground, the squirrel in hot pursuit. As if by magic the view from my window began to drip with promise.

Elva Stoelers

No rain–no rainbows.

Unknown

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
22

F
ear holds my memories hostage. If I remember, I may break into a thousand pieces. Then I realize that I am already broken. Who was the person who disappeared when the abuse began?

I pick up a piece of memory here and another one there. I arrange the memories in correct order.

As I remember, I reassemble the sculpture of my life to its original design.

Darlene Franklin

The past is malleable and flexible, changing as our recollection interprets and re-explains what has happened.

Peter Berger

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
23

I
t is up to each of us to determine how we are going to recover from adversity or tragedy in our lives. It is easy to fall victim to the loss, to use it as an excuse for personal failure, emotional or social problems. My mother’s death when I was eighteen was a tremendous obstacle for me to face, but I made a decision not to allow myself to be victimized by the loss. Being angry or questioning God left me feeling emptier than ever. Instead, having unwavering faith in him and trust in his greater purpose allowed me to find mine. I honor my mother’s memory by being the person she raised me to be–the person she invested her life in.

Letitia Trimmer Meeks

However long the night, the dawn will break.

African Proverb

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
24

O
ne moment. Now. The past is but a fragile web of regret and memory. The future is full of joys and sorrows that are yet to have substance. All that you can really touch is this moment. Savor this moment completely. Smell the wet grass. Listen to a loved one’s laughter. Take the time to sip your coffee. Study the sunset from an overstuffed chair. Embrace what is good. Cherish what is pure. We cannot hoard yesterday. Neither can we spend tomorrow. We can only treasure today.

Renee Hixson

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Buddha

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
25

“O
urs is adiseaseof attitudes.” I recognize thatmy negative attitudes hamper my recovery path. The negative thinking and destructive attitudes that I learned growing up with addiction and dysfunction remain with me until I do something to change them. Forcing positivity on top of negativity does not work, neither side rings true when I do that. What I need to do is remember that I have trouble with my attitudes and that I need special work in that area to restore them to sanity. Acknowledging the problem, sharing it out loud and turning it over helps.As I reworkmy past issues, Iwill remember that I need to make constant attitude adjustments so that I can maintain the good work that I am doing.

Tian Dayton

Be led by reason.

Greek Proverb

Footnotes for Life

J
ULY
26

W
hy do we destroy our emotional well-being withmembers of the opposite sex who will never be relationship material? Sound familiar? Then chances are you’ve heard the word “codependent” before. Seems as if we put more thought into our next meal than in choosing our mate. I, for one, would like to start with an appetizer of romance and thoughtfulness, with a dash of passion. For the main course, I’ll have an emotionally stable, commitment-oriented, dependable, trustworthy, considerate, all-around decent guy, please! Oh, and can I have a side order of good communication skills to go with that?