Shut up! Shut the hell up! Now there’s a spiritual message, if ever I’ve heard one. To tell myself, Shut up! Usually I tell myself this, when someone elses business is being shoved right in front of me.
Minding my own business is a number one priority in my daily quest to stay sober. Not always easy. That’s why I have to practice telling myself to shut up. Sometimes I have to shout it within myself, smile, and walk away. If I didn’t practice this, I would be in danger of stepping into someplace I don’t belong. I’ve done that in the past, thinking I could be of some assistance. My experience in doing that has demonstrated just how hazardous that can be.
Learning to be silent has not always been an easy task. My first impulse is to respond in most situations and depending on the attitude, which prompted my response, I have found myself in some pretty messy situations. Staying with this program and attempting to work it in my life, I have developed new attitudes over time. One of them is the practice of stepping aside and being silent.
For myself, it is part of learning to try to practice these principles in all of my affairs. First by trying to understand those I have to deal with on a daily basis. Trying to bring love and tolerance, as the BB and the program suggests, into my life and the lives of others. No guarantees, but just trying to practice. That’s why paying attention and being aware is so important to me. Like telling myself to shut up.
As my sponsor used to say, whatever works for you. It’s all about staying sober today. That’s my primary purpose. I thought I’d take the time to remind myself and remember what works for me.