24 Hours At A Time

"Accept the things I cannot change..." How many times a week do we meeting attenders say those words? Does acceptance really make us feel better? Here's my take on this topic: I ride my bike every day to help control my blood sugar. Today, I took a 10 mile ride. There were 25 MPH winds gusting all day today. For the first 5 miles of my ride, I was riding into that wind. Then I turned around and headed home for 5 miles, riding with the wind instead of against it. During that ride into the wind, I was very unhappy. Frankly, I was miserable. I didn't make eye contact with the drivers passing me by, I was in pain, and I felt like quitting the ride. On the way back, riding WITH the wind, my entire outlook changed. I barely had to pedal; I just coasted along. I enjoyed the changing colors of Fall, and I smiled and waved at every person I saw. I felt like I could ride my bike forever.
Acceptance or a lack of it is just like that bike ride. If I work a good program and exercise acceptance, my days go by just like the 2nd half of that ride: happiness, gratitude; just coasting right along. If, though, for 1 minute, I get away from that serene type of thinking, I then begin pedaling against the wind, which I can't afford to do. Anger, bitterness, resentment, fear, greed, jealousy; I choose not to entertain these emotions. I'll take unconditional love and acceptance any day of the week. I may have to ride my BIKE against the wind, but with the help of AA and the people who read these words, I'll coast all the way home in life for the rest of my days. How about you?-Frosty