Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul Daily Inspirations (Chicken Soup for the Soul) (41 page)

Jayne Thurber-Smith

Mistakes are the portals of discovery.

James Joyce

Footnotes for Life

S
EPTEMBER
28

I
searched for a way to pour out my heartache and sorrow, struggling to find comfort and solace after the death of my four-year-old son. I needed a friend, non-judgmental, who would never tell a soul what I had shared. Feeling like a bottle capped too tightly I needed to unwind, to release some of my pain. My search brought me to pen and paper, to the pages of a safe book–my journal–where I experienced the healing in writing to recover. For eight years I have filled the pages and what began as pain and undeniable anger now reads as sweet joy.

Alice J.Wisler

Children are innocent and love justice, while most adults are wicked and prefer mercy.

G.K. Chesterton

Footnotes for Life

S
EPTEMBER
29

O
nce you’ve been sober a while you realize that sobriety is not just about putting down your addiction. That’s only the beginning. Sobriety is about letting the light of the spirit shine through, and letting you be the person you were always meant to be. Putting down the addiction is like scrubbing long-dirty windows, what you finally see behind the glass has been there all the time, you just never saw how beautiful it was.

Kelly L. Stone

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

Henry David Thoreau

Footnotes for Life

S
EPTEMBER
30

W
hen I look in the mirror today, let me see beyond the obvious. Beyond the tired eyes, let me see strength I didn’t know I had. Past the lines on my face, let me see character that wasn’t there before. Let me see someone who has grown and changed and will continue to do so. Someone who is a little bit stronger, a little bit wiser and a little bit better than yesterday. When I look at myself, let me see not only what’s there . . . but what else is there.

Lori Othouse

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

Beverly Sills

Footnotes for Life

O
CTOBER
1

L
ife does not pass me by–I pass through it.

There are stars to count, flowers to touch, people to greet, fragrances to enjoy, sounds to hear. I am alive.

Today I will take an active role in the quality of life all around me. Intention and action are my reality.

Brenda Nixon

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

Samuel Butler

Footnotes for Life

O
CTOBER
2

T
he dance of life has simple moves. Follow your heart. Lead with your soul. Be true to yourself. Find what sparks your soul and kindles your inner fire.

When disappointments bring on ominous skies and threatening storms, embrace your dreams. Your dreams are those warm rays of hope that will keep you anchored until the sun shines tomorrow.

Know that soon you will whirl and waltz with the wind again.

Maryellen Heller

If you’re already walking on thin ice, you might as well dance.

Gill Atkinson

Footnotes for Life

O
CTOBER
3

A
humble person dismisses nothing, recognizing that whatever life presents needs to be respected. Inside even the smallest things there is often enormity. Being humble does not require you to give of yourself indiscriminately. Have the wisdom to know the value of your inner resources and to give accordingly.

Brahma Kumaris
World Spiritual University

By maintaining an attitude of love and regard for every soul, you create a life filled with dignity and purpose.

Brahma Kumaris

Footnotes for Life

O
CTOBER
4

T
oday I will surround myself with people who care about me. I take deep satisfaction in knowing there are people in my life I can turn to. I, too, can be a friend. I can give support and nurturing to others without becoming responsible for their lives. In the past, I avoided friendships because they became too painful, too demanding. I expected too much of myself and I expected too much of others. I now realize that I no longer need to isolate myself from friendship. I cannot solve the problems of my friends, and they cannot solve mine. But we can give each other support, we can listen, we can care for each other. Friendship and recovery go hand in hand.

Rokelle Lerner

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.