February 12 Living in the moment


"We regretted the past, dreaded the future, and weren't too thrilled
about the present."

Basic Text, p. 7


Until we experience the healing that happens when we work the Twelve
Steps, it is doubtful that we can find a statement more true than the
quote above. Most of us come to NA hanging our heads in shame, thinking
about the past and wishing we could go back and change it. Our fantasies
and expectations about the future may be so extreme that, on our first
date with someone, we find ourselves wondering which lawyer we'll use
for the divorce. Almost every experience causes us to remember something
from the past or begin projecting into the future.

At first, it's difficult to stay in the moment. It seems as though our
minds won't stop. We have a hard time just enjoying ourselves. Each
time we realize that our thoughts are not focused on what's happening
right now, we can pray and ask a loving God to help us get out of
ourselves. If we regret the past, we make amends by living differently today; if
we dread the future, we work on living responsibly today.

When we work the steps and pray each time we discover we're not living
in the present, we'll notice that those times aren't occurring as often
as they used to. Our faith will help us live just for today. We'll have
hours, even days, when our full attention is focused on the current
moment in time, not the regrettable past or fearful future.


Just for today: When I live fully in each moment, I open myself to joys
that might otherwise escape me. If I am having trouble, I will ask a
loving God for help.