Today's thought from Hazelden is:

Competing with others - Attitude


Some of us never liked close competition. We preferred to be clear winners or not to compete at all. We didn't like to have competitors breathing down our necks.

This attitude kept up from doing our best, and we made a mistake when we thought we were competing with others. We're actually competing with ourselves at all times, trying to do better than we did yesterday. The presence of other people only helps us to set performance standards and goals.

Once we accept the idea of self-improvement, we can delight in competition. We can take satisfaction in situations where, though we were not number one, we came in a close second instead of a sullen last.

I'll know today that I'm always working with others but only competing against myself.
From: Walk in Dry Places by Mel B.

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I'm glad that this is today's reading. I wish I could send it to my assisant, Jennifer. I think she needs to read it. She seems to be in competition with me and at times the other assistants to show who is stronger, better in control, etc. We work in a CDC room, for Pete's sake. It's glorified baby sitting not brain surgery!

The same kind of thing went on in the old Al-Anon group with Lois. It's not about who is better, smarter, more capable, etc. It's about us recognizing that we each have a problem and striving to better ourselves. Hopefully along the way we can lift up our fellow travelor, too.

Jennifer is the adult child of an alcoholic. In listening to her talk, I'd say she married into a family of alcoholics as well. She is very much a control freak and could benefit from Al-Anon. But to tell her that? Are you kidding? She's flat deny it.

Last night at the new Al-Anon meeting there were 5 of us present. Ruby, me and 3 nursing students who needed to sit in on a meeting for class. Two of them are children of alcoholics. I think everyone that needed to be present last night was. It was a good meeting. I came away feeling like I'd been to a real meeting for the first time in a long time. The students may even come back or tell their peers about us. They took notes and asked a lot of questions, read with us and shared. It was like being in a newcomers meeting. I loved it. I was so excited when I left that I had to tell someone. I called to talk to Marian and got her son on the telephone instead which was fine. I love talking to him. But he seemed to be in a hurry and didn't stay on the phone long. So, I called my mother. But in retrospect I think I was supposed to talk to the paradox. Not sure why. May never know.

Tonight I'll be attending mass. My brother spoke of wanting to go with me. Not sure if he meant this week or not. I'm just glad that my biological family is interested in this. Of course, if they weren't, it wouldn't matter. But it's nice to have them on board. I get a little lonely out here all by myself.

Tomorrow is Special Olympics at the Giles County High School. I have two competing- the drama queen and Kristopher.

Oh, I forgot to mention that we received news about Q. He was taken from his mother by DCS. He also broke a teacher's nose when he lashed out at her. He's probably been without medicine the whole time he's been down there in Florida. His behavior didn't surprise me but I'm glad to hear about his being removed from his home. That was a very bad situation. We await news on whether he will be sent back here.