Thursday, May 14, 2009

First Things First


One thing at a time.

That's all we have to do. Not two things at once, but one thing done in peace.

One task at a time. One feeling at a time. One day at a time. One problem at a time. One step at a time.

One pleasure at a time.

Relax. Let go of urgency. Begin calmly now. Take one thing at a time.

See how everything works out?
from Language of Letting Go

Nothing much is weighing me down today, even though there is a lot that I have to get done. I have a bunch of proposals to review, a meeting with a post-doctoral student this afternoon, and other assorted things that I need to take care of before the end of the day. I'll do the best that I can and prioritize these by doing "first things first".

I'm still going to go to my noon meeting. And I'm going to meet with a sponsee after work today. Those are a priority for me. It's part of my emotional and spiritual rehabilitation program. It's being mindful of "first things first".

I enjoy working with this sponsee. He is sincere and takes the program seriously. He has a lot of things on his plate but is managing to juggle them all by keeping "first things first".

I'm going to head home after the sponsee meeting and spend some time with my wife and the dogs. We fix dinner together and talk a bit about the day. Even though she is home now and I'm at work, we call each other a couple of times a day. We keep our feelings for each other first now.

At any point in the day, I can decide to make something a priority. In every situation there is one thing that is more important, then one that is next in line and so on. I know that I can't do everything at once or be all things to all people. I like that I don't feel guilty about that anymore ("screw guilt").

I think that by focusing on myself by keeping "first things first", my spiritual and emotional health, and the things that I need to do all fall into a kind of order. I'm thus in a better position to proceed with living a life of contentment without all the chaos. How about getting rid of some chaos in your life today?

20 comments:

  1. This is a very good way to prioritize and not freak out. Thanks, Syd.

    One thing at a time.

    Love,

    SB

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  2. Thank you Syd. I really needed this today. I feel myself breathing easier already.

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  3. sometimes, when I get that overwhelmed feeling, I make a list. That keeps me on track for the first things first.

    great post (as always!)

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  4. Syd, I needed to read this today. Thanks much.

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  5. Really great post! The first thing should be focusing on you...once you do that, everything else seems to fall into place.

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  6. I have a good friend in the program who always says "one NOW at a time"...I like that.

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  7. First thing First has been my lifeline many times. Right now, I am trying to figure out how a simple question can be so friggen hard to answer by my brother. But then, he was affected too and doesn't have a program so maybe I just answered my own questions..hehe

    Enjoy the day--

    Namaste

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  8. Great post. I like things peaceful and simple too.jeNN

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  9. Absolutely! I'm all for getting rid of chaos in my life. I lived with so much for so long that now that I have found a new way to live, I can't tolerate it anymore.

    AND "Screw guilt"!!!

    Prayer Girl

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  10. We got a program, and we can say screw it. LOL

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  11. That was a hard lesson for me, to take care of myself first to be in the right mind to help someone else. Sometimes it's perfectly alright to make it about you.

    I loved the concept of one thing at a time...much like one day at a time. (Hugs)Indigo

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  12. no chaos here Syd, not even a teeny bit. Its wonderful isn't it?

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  13. Syd, as I'm reading this...I am trying to do 3 things at once. THANK YOU! Two of those things will wait until tomorrow!

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  14. I say this all of the time, "Single tasking is underrated". I used to be a baker when I was the mother of a toddler. I multi tasked day and night for years it seemed. No vacation for 9 yrs...boy was that messed up!

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  15. Love the quote, its a great reminder.

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  16. Good perspectives well articulated...

    Thank you

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  17. you have so many good and easy things to share. you're a star!

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  18. Big thanks from me too, Syd. Just what I needed to get my day started. So I am going to follow it ... first things first. K x

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  19. Chaos be gone! Thanks Syd...

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  20. Thanks Sid. I needed that. First things first.

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Let me know what you think. I like reading what you have to say.