[nandm]

Day 5

The Victim

"People who feel good about themselves produce good results." anonymous.

Today's the day we need to remind ourselves that our inventory didn't simply uncover defects of character. It also revealed our positive side---the strengths that helped sustain us in those times when we felt we were victims of unfair treatment or unfortunate circumstances.

How often have we felt like the man beset with incredibly bad luck. Although he was a spriitual, ethical, moral man, he was cuckolded by his wife, cheated by his partner and humilated by his children. As if that were'nt enough his house burned down, his business failed, his wife left him and his children stole his savings.

Despite all this misfortune, he went out in his field to pary, trying to keep his faith intact. He flung his arms in supplication and looked up to the sky. At that precise momen, a bird flew by and its droppings hit him squarely in the ye.

In utter defeat, the man wiped his eye, looked heavenward again, and cried, "Why God? Why me? For other people sing!"

Unquestionably, we have suffered many bitter blows to our self-image. This is one of the reasons our compulsion held us so long in its grip. Whether this obsession was with people, places, things or substances, it created a definate erosion of our self-respect.

At this point in our program we need to decide whether we will continue to feel the victim, or whether we will use our new tools and new perspective, and walk away from those old hurts and attitudes once and for all.

Today's Step; I let go of the old hurts and misfortunes in order to build a new life today.

Step by Step. Muriel Zink