It Works

 What is the essence of persistence?

Why do some people succeed at sobriety and others don’t? Is it a case of “drinking the Kool-Aid” instead of alcohol or sugar or perfection or whatever holds us back? There is certainly success both in and out of the rooms. What is my concept of success, and how does it inform my decisions today?

For me, there is a sweet relief in turning toward the light, like a sunflower. Drink it in! Feel the warmth of the light rather than the empty glory of the dark.

Every day we can see those who have embraced the temporary highs of unearned success, greed, selfishness, lack of empathy for the less fortunate. Every day we see the pull those things have on people. Bigger! Better! Brighter! Richer! Thinner! Taller! Shorter! Anything that allows us to feel separate-from or better-than. Someone has something you want? Take it. Claim it. Go so far as to say “God wanted me to have it”.

Who am I? Who do I want to be? Am I, as I like to think, a “spark of the Divine”? What is the invisible thing that motivates me? What is the inner voice I choose to listen to or ignore? What do I consider to be “success”?

As I continue to move through life, I get to choose those role-models who exemplify the qualities I want to have. I’m learning every day to give those qualities expression - and to forgive myself when I fall short.

My virtual friend Barbara Symons writes “We are Divine beings that have partnered with a fractal of biology that exists as slowed down frequency, light that has congealed intelligently to produce a partner that will escort us (Divinity) through the material worlds.” That resonated with me. We all have the capacity to explore the Divine within, or to allow our egos to pursue the selfishness, self-pity, and stuck-ness of a refusal to align with Love.

I chose that alignment. Light and Love, may I always persist in emulating you.