January 4th: Choosing Positivity

January 4th - Reflection for the Day

For a good part of my life, I saw things mostly in negative terms. Everything was serious, heavy, or just plain awful. Perhaps now I can truly change my attitude, searching out the winners in the Gamblers Anonymous Program who have learned how to live comfortably in the real world—without gambling.

If things get rough today, can I take a quiet, moment and say to myself as the philosopher Homer once said, Bear patiently, my heart—for you have suffered heavier things?

Today I Pray

May the peace of God that passes all human understanding fill the place within me that once harbored my despair. May an appreciation for living—even for life’s trials—cancel out my old negative attitudes. During heart-heavy moments, help to remind me that my heart was once much heavier still.

Today I Will Remember

I am a winner—in the best sense of the word.

For so long, negativity was my default setting. I expected the worst, saw the worst, and let that mindset drag me deeper into my addiction. It was like wearing a pair of dark glasses that filtered everything through fear, doubt, and despair. In recovery, I’ve learned that I don’t have to live that way anymore.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve embraced is this: what I focus on grows. If I keep looking for problems, I’ll find them. But if I seek out the good—no matter how small—it becomes easier to spot the light in even the darkest times. Recovery isn’t just about giving up gambling; it’s about reshaping how I see the world and my place in it.

Now, when I face challenges, I try to pause and remember that I’ve already survived so much. As Homer’s words remind us, “Bear patiently, my heart—for you have suffered heavier things.” My past is proof that I have the strength to endure, and my present is an opportunity to live differently, one moment at a time.

Today, I choose to see myself not as a victim of life, but as someone learning to embrace it. I may not have all the answers, but I no longer need them to find peace.