Post by lildee on Feb 3, 2005 8:48:10 GMT -5
Hope for Today
When I was a baby, my grandfather gave me a plush toy chimpanzee. As I grew up, my parents often told me my grandfather had given me the chimpanzee because he thought it looked just like me. I became self-conscious about my looks, especially my long upper lip and big ears. I believed myself to be as ugly as that stuffed chimp.
Years later as I worked on my Fourth Step using
Al-Anon's Blueprint for Progress, I faced this question: "Can I accept my physical appearance?" Even after years of recovery in the program, my answer was still, "No." At first I was embarrassed by my lack of self-acceptance. Then I became angry and resentful of my alcoholic family members for their cruel remarks. My sponsor suggested what I considered an odd route to self- love. She asked me to embrace my toy chimp, which like me had miraculously survived my childhood. She told me to surround it with love. I thought it was a crazy idea, but I did it anyway. I set it on my dresser where I could see it during the day, and I slept with it at night.
In due time that "ugly" chimp started to look beautiful to me. I began to treasure the worn but still smiling face that is always happy to see me. The features I once thought hideously distorted now seem in perfect proportion. Today I love myself as I love that toy. I now believe the only real ugliness that exists in me lies in my attitudes. Acceptance changes everything.
Thought for the Day
How ready and willing am I today to invite the transforming power of acceptance into my will and my life?
"Al-Anon offers us a new beginning. ...We can learn to accept ourselves and become willing to change our attitudes for the better:" Blueprint for Progress. p. 21
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When I was a baby, my grandfather gave me a plush toy chimpanzee. As I grew up, my parents often told me my grandfather had given me the chimpanzee because he thought it looked just like me. I became self-conscious about my looks, especially my long upper lip and big ears. I believed myself to be as ugly as that stuffed chimp.
Years later as I worked on my Fourth Step using
Al-Anon's Blueprint for Progress, I faced this question: "Can I accept my physical appearance?" Even after years of recovery in the program, my answer was still, "No." At first I was embarrassed by my lack of self-acceptance. Then I became angry and resentful of my alcoholic family members for their cruel remarks. My sponsor suggested what I considered an odd route to self- love. She asked me to embrace my toy chimp, which like me had miraculously survived my childhood. She told me to surround it with love. I thought it was a crazy idea, but I did it anyway. I set it on my dresser where I could see it during the day, and I slept with it at night.
In due time that "ugly" chimp started to look beautiful to me. I began to treasure the worn but still smiling face that is always happy to see me. The features I once thought hideously distorted now seem in perfect proportion. Today I love myself as I love that toy. I now believe the only real ugliness that exists in me lies in my attitudes. Acceptance changes everything.
Thought for the Day
How ready and willing am I today to invite the transforming power of acceptance into my will and my life?
"Al-Anon offers us a new beginning. ...We can learn to accept ourselves and become willing to change our attitudes for the better:" Blueprint for Progress. p. 21
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. I will be back looking for Lin and others.