A funk had settled over me. \u00a0I wasn’t hopping out of bed with much enthusiasm. \u00a0The dread of old had settled in. \u00a0Again. \u00a0For how long this time, I wondered. \u00a0This experience isn’t new. \u00a0It’s a common theme for me, actually. \u00a0Sometimes it feels like I pay more than an occasional “visit” to this site. \u00a0I nestle in, in fact. \u00a0And then the fear of how long it will last creeps in.<\/p>\n
It wouldn’t be such a big deal but it changes my behavior toward others. \u00a0Those I love the most become my central focus and placing them under the microscope doesn’t add peace to my life or theirs. \u00a0Finding fault becomes so much more commonplace when I am in this all too familiar funk. \u00a0What makes the funk inviting is what has escaped me forever, however. \u00a0It simply seems to knock on the door and I invite it in.<\/p>\n
What I am thankfully remembering, once again today, is that nothing happens in God’s world by accident.<\/strong> \u00a0Nothing. \u00a0If the funk has paid a visit it’s because I have some work that needs to be attended to. \u00a0And I think I know what that work is. \u00a0I have forgotten, once again, to be grateful, in a very specific way, for this very blessed life. \u00a0Very blessed life in fact. \u00a0I was invited, quite subtly, to be “the voice” for God when I wrote EACH DAY A NEW BEGINNING<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0And every book since then has been “my assignment” too. \u00a0Each exchange with God belongs on my gratitude list!<\/p>\n I have quit wondering why I was selected to be an author. \u00a0It simply happened. \u00a0It has been my complete pleasure to comply “with the request.” \u00a0But forgetting that God is my constant companion, the one who is in charge of my life, leads to self-doubt and the funk that is its playmate. \u00a0My sponsor, nearly forty years ago, said never forget to be grateful, Karen. \u00a0She also said keeping a list that’s \u00a0current would keep me humble and faith-filled.<\/p>\n I want to share that list with you right now. \u00a0Writing it here allows me to return to it often. \u00a0I am grateful, first and foremost, for my sobriety. \u00a0Without it I’d not be alive. \u00a0Literally. \u00a0I am grateful for my husband who is my companion in every endeavor I undertake. \u00a0He “makes” my life work. \u00a0The hole in my heart that he has filled was very deep. \u00a0I \u00a0am grateful for the loving relationships I have with my family. \u00a0They didn’t always love being with me. \u00a0I was argumentative and judgmental. \u00a0Even after I got sober. \u00a0But no longer. \u00a0The friends I have in Minnesota and Florida are icing on the cake of my life.<\/p>\n I haven’t even scratched the surface of all that I am grateful for. \u00a0I am grateful for the ease with which my husband and I have committed to practicing the principles of A Course in Miracles. \u00a0Traveling this spiritual path with him “right sizes me” when I remember to seek to see the miracles that are all around me. \u00a0I could go on and on but this is enough for me to ruminate about in this post. \u00a0Savoring these few things shifts my mood from one of funk to one of fun. \u00a0How great is that?<\/p>\n When was the last time you made a gratitude list? \u00a0If it was more than a month ago, the time to do one is now. \u00a0Then sit back and watch it shift your mood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A funk had settled over me. \u00a0I wasn’t hopping out of bed with much enthusiasm. \u00a0The dread of old had settled in. \u00a0Again. \u00a0For how long this time, I wondered. \u00a0This experience isn’t new. \u00a0It’s a common theme for me, actually. \u00a0Sometimes it feels like I pay more than an occasional “visit” to this site. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8,10,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-karens-musings","category-reflections-in-the-mirror-you-and-yourself","category-what-i-believe-you-and-your-higher-power"],"yoast_head":"\n