Celebration of Choices
“I see a little man with his top hat, arm raised above his shoulder in salute. He celebrates his recent discovery… he has choices in his life.
“It is freeing to learn one can choose at any point. Ah, cause for celebration!”
I never thought I had choices about my life and my actions, my feelings, my mood. For me, all those things were totally overshadowed with childhood wounds that I could not get past to see that I could choose to act and react differently.
I spent a great deal of my life blaming others for my misery and I wallowed in self-pity. Then I learned the practice of doing a self-appraisal and I soon realized that I was not taking responsibility for myself. Not fully… not even at all.
I learned that it was my job to heal from my wounds, that we all have wounds. I was not unique. I discovered that by getting sober and seeking therapy services, I was taking more responsibility for myself. I was exercising my choice.
You see, we all have a choice about everything we do, right down to our attitude, and once we make a choice, we need to be willing to accept the consequences that go along with that choice.
In our example, I chose not to accept responsibility for my own healing, to blame others, and the consequence for that was severe depression, despair, strained relationships, poor self-esteem, and so forth. When I hit my emotional alcoholic bottom, I was forced to make a change, or die. I chose to live.
I could have chosen to continue blaming others. Had I done that, I have no doubt I’d be dead now through the use of alcohol or at my own hands.
Realizing we have choice is a powerful place to be. We can get out of those relationships that are toxic and damaging to our souls, our spirits. Or, we can stay and continue to accept abuse. Yes, there is fear, even terror, at the thought of being on our own, but that is a consequence of making a choice that, in the long run, is better for our being.
Today, look at the choice you have in your life; recognize that it applies to so many areas of your life. You have the responsibility to make changes if you are not satisfied; it is your choice. It is your job to initiate or seek help if you’re in a bad relationship, for example. Leaving is not the only option. Just recognize that life is a series of choice, one after another. You will be amazed at the peace that brings into your life.
