10-24-07 -- "THE BITTER WITH THE BETTER"

On Wednesdays, we read from One Day at a Time. Check today's reading out:

"One evening at a meeting there seemed to be an unusual number of
complaints from members -- about not having what they felt entitled to, or
about the alcoholic's behavior and generally about their sorry lot in life.

 One, a forthright person, spoke up.
 'You know, all this sounds as though some of us were childishly expecting
life to be entirely free of problems.  I recall a long-ago radio comedienne
whose favorite line went something like this: 'Well, you have to take the
bitter with the better.'  That's pretty good Al-Anon philosophy, too,
because it tells us we have to accept some unpalatable experiences along the
way, never forgetting, at the same time, to keep an eye on the good things.'

Today's Reminder
  Am I expecting everything in life to be just the way I want it?  Maybe I
ought to take a good look at those expectations and see if they are
realistic for my particular situation.  If I'm constantly reaching for the
moon, I'm going to miss a lot of pleasant things right here in my little
world."*  Al Anon Family Groups

I've often reached for the moon in my life.  Sometimes I can touch it. Often it seems tantalizingly out of reach. Which ticks me off. It's only since I got in the program that I understand the concept of taking the "bitter with the better." I always strove for perfection in myself and my life before. Can I tell you how exhausting that is?