Hey all-
I am in the pre-phases but hitting the separation excercises hard. I fell off a tiny bit this morning so am writing to share this observation. The creeping up of smoking unawares! Amazing to see that as I got busy packing for my big cross country move I found myself reverting back to old habits. So I posted a note that says "SEPARATION- ASK- Do you really want this?" where I usually smoke. It reminds me to consider what I'm doing when I sit down to have that automatic cigarette without thinking.
Stay strong all! Also- just letting everyone know that I may be very sporadic from now onwards due to losing internet connection soon, and a cross country drive. I will be thinking of you all though and look forward to coming back on more regularly once I get to my destination by Aug 26th or so.
I leave you all with one of my favorite poems (posted a long time ago here but it's always timely)
A Psalm of Life
Longfellow
TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait
