There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow.
Dalai Lama
This is a great quote from the Dalai Lama and one that applies directly to sobriety. Yesterday cannot be changed and tomorrow does not need to be solved yet. The only decision in front of us is whether to drink today, which is why focusing on today can make staying sober feel far more manageable.
Yesterday has been and gone. What ever happened yesterday happened. It’s done. There is no changing that short of developing a time machine.
Only today can you change things. Only today can you take action. Don’t worry about yesterday’s actions. Worry about today’s actions.
So what does this mean practically for us.
It means that we shouldn’t focus on our past transgressions. Instead focus on not making any new ones. It means even if we drank yesterday that doesn’t mean we have to drink today. Yesterday’s actions cannot be changed but they also do not bind us to a path. Today is when we can do something and today is when you can choose not to drink.
And while you can’t do anything tomorrow you can make tomorrow better through actions today. Do you think tomorrow will go better if you drank today? No, of course not. Drinking today will mean tomorrow will be a hangover day.
When is a hangover day ever a worthwhile productive day.
Focus on today. Forget about yesterday. Make today better so that tomorrow is easier.
So today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.
Dalai Lama
IWNDWYT – I will not drink with you today
Leave a Reply