Reflection:
Gratitude is the antidote to bitterness. A thankful heart doesn’t just feel lighter—it builds resilience. You can’t be grateful and anxious at the same time.
In the rooms of AA, I heard countless sayings about gratitude, and every one of them proved true. In the early days of sobriety, gratitude was a lifeline for me. Like others in the rooms around me, I was down and out, trying to figure out how to clean up my mess — especially the one in my head.
I can totally relate Jelly Roll’s song Winning Streak:
And I’ve been losin’ myself, I’ve been losin’ my mind
And I’ve been standin’ in the rain, just tryna stay dry
I was so ashamed to be in this seat
‘Til I met a man who was twenty years clean
He said, “Everybody here’s felt the same dеfeat”
Nobody walks through these doors on a winning streak.
Sobriety—and life itself—requires a daily conditioning of the heart: learning to find good, no matter how heavy the bad feels.
We don’t always get to control the storms swirling around us, but we can control the climate within us. For me, gratitude is the thermostat. It doesn’t come naturally—it takes practice, like building a muscle. Every morning in my quiet time, I write down three things I’m grateful for. Over the years, that simple ritual has reshaped my perspective. Now, I catch grateful moments in real time—like snapshots for the soul—throughout the day.
Gratitude is an attitude, yes, but more than that—it’s a way of living that makes the hard days survivable and the good days unforgettable…I always write from experience.
Soul Search:
What three things am I grateful for right now?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
