July 23--Reflect and Renew

How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the whole day and consider exactly what has been good and bad. Then without realizing it, you try to improve yourself at the start of each new day. --Anne Frank

     12-Steppers know this Frank quote to be the essence of Step 10: "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it." It's the ongoing daily practice of looking over how I behaved, felt and thought throughout the day, considering if I need to make any amends, and pondering how I can keep myself on a positive, expanding path. It means being conscious of one's life, rather than moving mindlessly through it on autopilot. It provides the opportunity to recognize and implement changes. It allows issues to be dealt with on a timely basis, then let go, rather than forever dragging around the baggage of guilt. 
     At the start of this new day, I leave you with a quote from Rumi:

Things are such, that someone lifting a cup or watching the rain, petting a dog or singing, just singing--could be doing as much for the universe as anyone. 

     Let's be a gentle blessing to someone today...
             Leta