Gilmer

This famous adage is from a beautiful and true meditation written by John Donne in 1624.

“No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”

You matter in this world. No matter how worthless or isolated you feel, it makes no difference. You matter, and no one can take that away from you.

Believe it, because it’s the truth.

Likewise, no matter how self-sufficient you think you are, you stand to benefit from other members of the human race—whether from their companionship, their insights, or even their bad examples.

We alcoholics in particular need to learn from others who have gone before us, because doing everything “our way” has often led to a dead end.

Know your value—but realize that others are in the same family, and stay humble. Be willing to take input from those who care.

And give of yourself to others—because in the grand tapestry of the universe, you are included and you do make a difference.