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, January 10th – Friday, January 14th, 2022.
MONDAY, JANUARY 10TH
WORD OF THE DAY: SUMMON
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” – Christopher Reeve
MEDITATE ON THIS:
It is easy to get caught up in negativity and cynicism. There is much glaring evidence that the world is a dark place. It takes a little more effort to see what is good and beautiful, and it takes a lot more work to believe in our wildest dreams.
Some of us may have experienced so much pain in our early lives that we stopped dreaming long ago. Perhaps we decided we would rather live with the pain of settling for less than live with the pain of failure.
Our very biology dictates that we cannot remain in the dark in the fetal position. We have to push ourselves into the light if we are to come alive.
We alone must summon our will to recover and live. Nobody can do it for us.
The Daily Llama Fun Fact of the Day:
Today is National Clean Your Desk Day, National Houseplant Appreciation Day, and Peculiar People Day.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11TH
WORD OF THE DAY: DISCLOSURE
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Perhaps the most important reason for self-disclosure is that without it we cannot truly love.” – Sidney Jourard
MEDITATE ON THIS:
To be seen, to be heard, to be understood, to be accepted, to belong, and to be loved – these are the deepest of human needs. There is not one person alive in this world who does not have these core needs, though many have become very good at pretending.
We cannot get these needs met without experiencing vulnerability, and most of us do not like to be or feel vulnerable.
So we put on masks and play our roles, like grand Shakespearean actors that we are. We get so good at wearing our masks and playing a character of ourselves that many of us start to believe that the mask we wear is who we are. And then we spend years wondering why we feel so alone and unloved.
To be loved, you have to be known and to be known, you have to be seen. To be seen, you have to remove the mask.
The Daily Llama Fun Fact of the Day:
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. It is also National Milk Day and National Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12TH
WORD OF THE DAY: HONOR
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
MEDITATE ON THIS:
There are not many people who talk about having honor anymore. People are more likely to talk about fame, influence, power, or wealth than they are about honor. It has become an old-fashioned word.
What do we even mean when we talk about being honorable? It seems to be a word that goes deeper than keeping our promises and telling the truth. A person who is a total jackass in all other respects may be capable of keeping his promises and telling the truth.
Being honorable is not only about what we say and do, but it is also about how we say and do them.
How can I work on striving for more honor in my life today?
The Daily Llama Fun Fact of the Day:
Today is Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day, National Take the Stairs Day, National Curry Chicken Day, and Kiss a Ginger Day.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13TH
WORD OF THE DAY: GENTLENESS
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Gentleness is the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation, and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger, but be free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit.” – Aristotle
MEDITATE ON THIS:
When we are in early recovery, we are more sensitive than gentle. Our emotions are frayed and raw. Everything hurts. We cannot bear reproaches, and we are easily provoked to anger. We lack tranquility.
Over time, this can change. But it is not time alone that changes us. Simply being sober does not alter our spirits. Whether our sobriety begins to change our hearts depends on the quality of connections we make with others on our journey and our willingness to apply the wisdom we learn from others.
To be gentle in spirit does not mean that we are weak or easily pushed around. If we define gentleness the way Aristotle did, then having gentleness requires strength.
How can I create more gentleness in my soul today?
The Daily Llama Fun Fact of the Day:
Today is Make Your Dream Come True Day, National Peach Melba Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, and Public Radio Broadcasting Day. It is also Calennig, which is the Welsh New Year. So if you haven’t written New Year’s resolutions yet, here’s your second chance.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 14TH
WORD OF THE DAY: CULTIVATE
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Cultivation to the mind is as necessary as food to the body.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
MEDITATE ON THIS:
The Latin root word for cultivation has an interesting double meaning: to care and to till. Till means to “plow, break up, disturb keenly, harrow.” So quite literally, cultivation of the mind means to care for the mind by disturbing it keenly.
Some of us may already feel our minds are disturbed enough, thank you.
But this is not quite what is meant. To disturb can simply mean we do not allow it to remain as is. We show care for ourselves when we don’t allow our old ways of thinking to stay.
We cultivate the soil in preparation for new seeds and a new harvest. We cultivate our minds in preparation for new dreams and a new life.
Cultivating our minds is as necessary to our lives as food. And most of us eat 2-4 times per day.
How can I cultivate my mind today?
The Daily Llama Fun Fact of the Day:
Today is Organize Your Home Day, National Dress Up Your Pet Day, International Kite Day, and Feast of the Ass Day.
Resources are available
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.
