"Dress Up" For The Day

[caressa]

If we are to find spiritual growth and serenity, we must dress our minds each morning as carefully as we dress our bodies. Only then can today become the glorious tomorrow we looked forward to yesterday."

Grapevine Sept 2


I like the idea of dressing for the day. The thought that came to mind was, "Don't leave home without it." Don't leave home without doing your meditation, take time to talk to God before you start your day. For people like me, talk to God either before your feet hit the floor, or talk to him while on the throne from one throney to another. When you do it there, there is generally no one around to disturb you.

My sponsor said to me in early recovery. If you have recovery show it, clean up your clothes and your personna, clean up your mouth and your actions. When I first came into recovery, it took a while to lose some of the make up and soften some of the lines, and look more like a lady instead of a lady of the night. The masks had to come off, and the real lady had to come out. A woman told me Friday night that I wore my sobriety well. My gray and white hair is natural curly and at the moment, comes below my ears, I had on a v-necked white t-shirt, blue jeans, and blue and orange plastic $1. store sandals, and a navy blue shoulder purse. I like your "fills out their jeans well" statement, that is what I use to say about the guys. Well I carry to much weight to say that honesty, but I am not thin, and I am not fat, but lately the good thing is, I don't feel fat and that makes a big difference. With me it is the swelling, when it is bad, it makes me feel fat and when it adds to the lbs. it can play havoc with my thinking and I go into a lot of mental game playing. Most of them aren't healthy, but thanks to the program, I don't have to stay in them, and I can recognize them for what they are in today.

When I went to a meeting, I didn't look at it as putting on a mask to go and when I went to Bert's anniversary; it was my sponsor's words, "If you have recovery, show it." Don't go to a meeting, looking all scruffy. Don't look like you just got out of bed and that you don't care. Take some care with your appearance. Your not going there for show. You are going there to show the newcomer that the program works and that you have recovered from that hopeless state of mind and body, and you are going there to give them hope. It isn't about you, it is always about carrying the message of recovery.

It is my responsibility to bring some light into someone who is in the dark.

[caressa]

Part of this is what I do with my day, do I stay in my pj's all day or do I get dressed. The answer is not always. I may put on clean ones, but I am pretty easy going around my home, I want soft and comfy and my pjs is generally long t-shirts and leggings or shorts.

My hair is curly and many times all it needs is my to ruffle it up with my hands but for health reasons I try to brush it once in a while, which can make life too lazy some days. I am and can be pretty low maintenance. Give me my music, my computer, some foot to eat, a bed to sleep and I am happy. Add to that clean jeans, a jacket and t-shirt, boots and a purse, I am happy, unless I feel like I want a hat. LOL!

Even when I go down to the drug store, I try to look put together, but once in a while, I get into that I don't care mode. As long as it is 'clean' it doesn't matter, but clean is the operative word. I refuse to wear 'dirty' clothes out in public. As I type that, I have a picture of my son smelling his t-shirt to find out which one smells the cleanest.

As they say, "I may be the only copy of the Big Book someone may see."

I not only need to clean up my clothes but my actions.

[DJgrrl]

I have read one grapevine and really liekd it. I wish I could buy a couple at the meetings I go to.

[caressa]

From what I understand, the circulation has been slow here. Do you have an area office where you can inquire as to where you can get a copy. Perhaps if you do a search, you could get on a mailing list.

[caressa222]

My sponsor always told me to suit up for the day. If you have recovery, show it.

[majestyjo]

Good thought, dress up you irinf as well as your body.