"One Day at a Time"

One Day at a Time
(Marijohn Wilkins / Kris Kristofferson)


I'm only human, I'm just a woman.
Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am.
Show me the stairway, I have to climb.
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.

Chorus:
One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.

Do you remember, when you walked among men?
Well Jesus you know if you're looking below
It's worse now, than then.
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time.

(Chorus)

One Day At A Time

Alcoholics who have found AA are constantly reminded that they need only to stay sober one day at a time. Today, for them as for us, is the key word.

The ancient Persian poet Omar says:
"Unborn Tomorrow and dead Yesterday, Why fret about them if today be sweet!"

Our business is to make today sweet--full of achievement, improvement and interesting activity. If we concentrate on today in this way, we'll have no time for brooding over dead yesterdays, or worrying about what tomorrows will bring. One thing we can be sure of--if we do our best today our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.

Most of us can meet the problems of just one day at a time. It is only when we add the awful burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we are attempting to cope with more trouble than is necessary.

It is not what happens today that is beyond our powers to endure, it is remorse or bitterness for things that happened yesterday, and dread of what tomorrow will bring.

Let us remind ourselves each morning, that we will live this one day as fully and confidently as we can.

--Taken From Al-Anon Booklet "Alcoholism The Family Disease" (P-4)

Just For Today

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.

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."

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.

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.

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 a 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

--Author Unknown (from Al-Anon's approved literature)

Today

Today is mine. It is unique. Nobody in the world has one exactly like it.

It holds the sum of all my past experiences and all my future potential.

I can fill it with joyous memories or ruin it with fruitless worry.

If painful recollections of the past come into my mind, or frightening thoughts.

Of the future, I can put them away.

They cannot spoil today for me.

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