I’m not sure this post is quite ready to come out of the oven yet. 🤔

I hoped 🙏 for so many things that never were to be.

I held on to so many things (hurts, painful memories, resentments…) -they took center-stage even when times were good.

I placed importance on things above people (material things, ideation of my own…) and in the end I had those things and ended up with no one to share them 💔 with.

The summation of my life is that I did it my way -and lost; left myself wanting.

What I’ve learned from it all:

1.Live life right and accept and appreciate what comes

2.To the best of your ability, don’t let others knock you off your game

3.Embrace both the happiness and sorrow life has you with equal zeal (when we run towards one, and away from the other, that’s when we run into trouble

4.Accept people where they’re at, and try to make a difference for the better

5.God’s not the problem; He’s not our enemy either; HE DESERVES ALL THE LOVE AND GRATITUDE AND SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE HIM

6.Never forget where you come from

7.Nobody’s perfect -not even you. And no matter how good people look on the outside, they’ve got issues just like the rest of us

8.Take responsibility for your part alone -no matter how hard others try to put their stuff on you

9.Keep your head up -and your chin down

10.Don’t try and do it on your own

11.You can be your own best friend -or your own worst enemy*

12.Trust in God; Clean house; Think of others**

13.Really show a vested interest in (getting to know) the people you are surround by

*A best friend today can be your own worst enemy tomorrow

** A very wise man once told me these 3 things:

1.Forgive yourself

2.Don’t have expectations of other

3.Look for what you can contribute to life -not what you can take away from it

Lastly, from the movie “Old Yeller” a paraphrase:

“Sometimes life gets so tough it’ll knock a man clean into the dirt. But it aint all bad son – In fact some of it’s pretty good. But if we spend all our time thinking about what’s bad, then it’s all bad.”***

I’ve spent the vast majority of my 31 and 2/3 years of sobriety focusing on what was wrong with my life -what was missing! I DON’T RECOMMEND IT TO ANYBODY -FRIEND OR FOE 😔