Just for Today Bookmark found in a book

When I checked online there were several different versions of this “anonymous” card with challenging thoughts.  I must have picked mine up over 30 years ago (it’s orange), and it has been lodged in various books, diaries and drawers since.  So I took another look today. It’s called “working a program.” I’ve italicized (#4, #8) the ones I have no problem with—piece of cake to spend 30 minutes to an hour in the morning usually, with something inspirational (right now it’s Magnificat, but I’ve used other sources). And no problem strengthening my mind—I am not a mental loafer. I read, research and write possibly 5-6 hours a day.   But the rest?  No success, but then I haven’t actually been trying the other 7.  I hate to set goals or make lists, so that’s part of it.  Also I don’t like other people telling me what to do, when, and how—probably why my diets fail after a few weeks.  And this Just for Today bookmark  is something that tells me I’m not doing it the right way to satisfy someone else. 

The biggest challenge for me is #6:

Just for today I will be agreeable.

I will look as well as I can,

dress becomingly,

keep my voice low,

be courteous,

criticize not one bit.

I won't find fault with anything,

nor try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.

No problem with “look as well as I can or dress becomingly.”  Always have my make-up on and completely dressed for the day in something attractive before my feet hit the first floor (in shoes, not slippers) in the morning. But the rest?  NO. I doubt I could go 5 minutes. And if you are nodding your head, then you probably have the same problem!  You wish I would change!! Some of us, and we know who we are, just can’t resist finding a better way to do something or improve something—or someone. We seem to gravitate to social media, too.

Just For Today Card

A popular sobriety aid is the Just for Today card that some AA [Al-Anon, Families Anonymous, Overeaters anonymous] members carry in their pocket or purse and refer to when thinking of a drink or they are disturbed by a life event.

Just for today

1. - Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
2. - Just for today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
3. - Just for today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my luck as it comes, and fit myself to it.
4. - Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
5. - Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I don't want to do just for exercise. I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt; they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.
6. - Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, keep my voice low, be courteous, criticize not one bit. I won't find fault with anything, nor try to improve or regulate anybody but myself.
7. - Just for today I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.
8. - Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.
9. - Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.