24 Hours by Chris Swanberg
One hour at a time
One day. Only 24 hours is all that I have to do to stay clean and sober. Actually, if I put my 7 hours of sleep in there, all I need to do is not to drink or drug for 17 hours. Anyone can stay clean for 17 hours. Or can they?
Maybe if I start my day off with some meditation. Maybe if I ask my Higher Power to help me. Maybe I might be able to help someone else out during the day. And if I do no harm to anyone else during that period, I might have a shot at this day.
Nothing is guaranteed. But, by a little action on my part I have a 24 hour chance. I see people who were worse off than me doing it. This gives me hope. Hope for a new day. Hope for a new life. Hope for better relationships with friends and family.
Maybe this is too long. Maybe all I have to do is get through the moment. I have heard that moments add up to a day. Days turn into weeks. Those weeks turn into months. Months turn into years. Wait! I don’t want to overwhelm myself. Let me just get through today. One day at a time.
I made it yesterday, so maybe if I do the same thing I might be able to make it through today. And maybe tomorrow. Wait! Tomorrow is not here. Let’s just get through today first.
Being clean and sober is not enough though. I probably have to change something about myself. It would probably be a good idea to change for the better. Maybe change some old bad habits for some good ones. An attitude change might help. Maybe that is why they talk of these steps. I was told my thinking is not normal. They say these steps might work. More action. By doing this I might, no, yes I believe I can make it another 24 hours.
Easier than I thought. Harder than I knew. But worth every step of the journey.
Look to this day. For it is life. The very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the realities and verities of existence.
The bliss of growth. The splendor of action. The glory of power-
For yesterday is but a dream.
And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today, well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness.
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.
Sanskrit proverb
By Kalidasa
Indian poet and playwright
Fifth century A.D.