The Daily Llama, by Staci DesRault, brings you short, one-word meditations and a corresponding quote plus a reflection for your complete wool-being (#seewhatwedidthere?) for Monday, December 25th – 29th, 2023.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 25th
WORD OF THE DAY: SURPASS
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” – Arthur Ashe
MEDITATE ON THIS:
Today we meditate on the value of serving others as a crucial part of our recovery. We have the choice each day to provide an act of kindness for someone else. Focusing on improving someone else’s life, however small or brief, the show takes very little from us. This does not mean we stop setting healthy boundaries for ourselves; giving and caring without healthy boundaries does not serve anyone. But service to others is the antidote to self-pity, as it reminds us that we still have good within us, and we can still make a difference in this world.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26th
WORD OF THE DAY: CENTERED
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I have great respect for the past. If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment. I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place.” – Maya Angelou
MEDITATE ON THIS:
Today we work on being entirely centered in the place where we are at. We strive to ground ourselves in the reality of the moment. We listen to what we hear in the way that we hear. We take in what we see in the way that we see. We fully taste what we eat, noticing and sensations. We feel what is within our touch, noticing the quality of the surfaces and objects we touch. We smell the fragrances around us, both pleasant and offensive. We center ourselves at the moment, fully aware of the present and that we are alive and breathing.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27th
WORD OF THE DAY: ADAPTABILITY
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“No matter what twists and turns your life offers you, your ability to be adaptable and flexible will help you to stay open to all of the hidden gifts that difficulty may offer.” – Mandy Ingber
MEDITATE ON THIS:
If we are too rigid in our thinking, we will break at the first sign of trouble. Being adaptable to whatever situations arise is a characteristic worth nurturing. However, we still need core values to keep us rooted when problems come, or we may topple or be blown away. We meditate today on being like a strong oak tree, with deep and strong roots but with the flexibility to dance back and forth when the windstorms come.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28th
QUOTE OF THE DAY: REASSURE
WORD OF THE DAY:
“I’m just trying to say that it should reassure us that the inevitable traumas of being human do end up producing some good. Otherwise, the human condition is overwhelmingly depressing.” – Malcolm Gladwell
MEDITATE ON THIS:
Today we let ourselves feel reassured that some good will come out of the troubles we have endured. The fact that good can arise from evil does not justify evil acts. Instead, it serves as a reminder that evil never has the last say.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29th
WORD OF THE DAY: SUSTAIN
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.” – Robert M. Pirsig
MEDITATE ON THIS:
Today we meditate on being fully aware of the sides of our mountains. Whether we are walking on a smooth stretch or climbing up a difficult pass, the bulk of our life is lived here. If we only focus on how we will feel when we reach the top, we will miss out on living the majority of the moments that make up our lives.
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
