“A Little Time for Myself”
-Title of new Al-Anon Daily Reader
It was late last summer. I had stayed over at my boyfriend’s apartment for the first time. Most of the summer we had spent at my house, so this was different. As usual, I woke up early in the morning while he was fast asleep. I came out to the living room—the early light of summer sun already up and peering through the front windows, edged out by the blinds. The air conditioner was blasting. I found the remote and turned it off. I wandered into the little kitchen and heated up water for instant coffee. I opened the blinds to let the sun in. While the water heated, I sat down on the loveseat, opened my iPad, and started my normal morning routine—morning readings, prayer, and meditation. With the water at a boil, I made a cup of coffee in between readings and sat once again to continue my morning practice.
Prayer and meditation—a little time for myself and my Higher Power—goes with me wherever I go. I had such a powerful memory this morning of my experience waking up at his apartment. There is literally never a time when I do not do this practice. I always make time. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, God goes with me. At my dear friend’s home in a different state, I have a spot in her formal living room, on a beautiful sectional, where I practice my morning time. Whether winter snow, summer rain, or something in-between, I sit on the white sofa and meditate on God’s goodness. Usually an hour in, her daughter wakes up and comes and sits with me. This has been a constant through the years.
As I prepare to take two trips in early June—one a weeklong cruise and the other a weeklong work trip out of state, I prepare for my morning time with God. My iPad is updated with books I want to read downloaded. I add special books from my programs that I have been wanting to read as well as books from my faith. I have a journal app now, because I do that as well. Last year on the ship I altered between sitting one deck up on the edge of the buffet at a table just outside, so I could feel the warm breeze off the ocean just during sunrise. Other times I would order room service and have breakfast delivered. I would enjoy my time with God in my little windowless cabin, drinking strong European coffee and eating a croissant.
With so much change in my life since being sober—and in the last year in my present circumstances—it is so reassuring to know that God is my constant. I give thanks to Al-Anon, because I really began practicing prayer and meditation due to my early membership in that program. I was in a great deal of pain at that time and those readings soothed my soul. I developed a daily discipline through seeking daily relief. Now I consider it a daily gift I give to myself and the
God who loves me more than I can ever know.