Does it sometimes seem as if we constantly worry about this or that, something that may or may not happen tomorrow or next week or next year? Are we ceaselessly plagued with anxiety about whether or not we did this Step right or if what action we took today was the best we could do? While each of us is likely to have days when we worry about some aspect of our recovery – and this is perfectly normal – as long as we don’t sit around and stew over details endlessly, trying to second-guess ourselves about whether or not we took the right course of action and what could possibly happen tomorrow, we should be okay.

Let’s face it. Recovery isn’t an easy process for anyone. It isn’t for the newcomer and it certainly isn’t for those of us in long-time recovery who have just experienced a world-shattering crisis. It may get easier, but it isn’t easy.

What’s a person to do? We may wonder about what Benjamin Franklin was thinking when he advised others to keep in the sunlight – instead of anticipating trouble or worrying about what may never happen. He probably didn’t really mean that they have to go outside and search for the sunlight and stand in it. He was using sunlight as a metaphor. Sunlight is a way of looking at life. It’s how we approach what happens each and every day. It’s a case of positive versus negative in the way we look at things.

Let’s say we’re facing a challenge being able to go to sleep at night. We haven’t been able to sleep soundly for weeks on end because we wake up with intense cravings or sweat-drenching nightmares. We want to take a drink to stop the craving or pop a pill to make the pain go away and allow us to forget the horrendous images that won’t go away. Where are we going to find sunlight at a time like this?

Or, we can’t seem to get through the day without a feeling of tremendous foreboding. We’re anxious, depressed, feeling hopeless and defeated. Will sunlight help us here?

Perhaps calling up a trusted friend or loved one, our sponsor or a fellow 12-step group member will help get us back on track. Especially if this person has a positive demeanor, has gone through some of the same types of situations we’re now experiencing, or we just plain really enjoy being around the individual.

Does keeping in the sunlight sound like an impossible task? Is it too much Pollyanna and not enough practical? On the contrary. We have choices in life – always. We can choose to view life as dismal and forbidding and only a march toward death OR we can choose to embrace life and regard each day as a gift. When we’re in recovery, the more that we practice the behavior of voicing our positive affirmation of our sobriety – to ourselves and to others – the more we are keeping in the sunlight. It’s a mindset and a way of acting that will become more instinctive and second-nature the more we do it.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with creating a goal that you start to work on at a certain date, but frankly, I think the best day to pick is today and only today.  Today I will…

This helps me avoid the deal making and the  post-poning.  If I decide in early December that I’m going to “start a diet” on New Year’s Day, that means I’ll eat ridiculously badly until that day.  Why not say, I’m going to eat healthy today?  That doesn’t mean I’ll be perfect every day until New Year’s Day – but it sure means I likely won’t be as cavalier until the phony deadline.

The problem with creating resolutions based on a specific day, be it New Year’s or a birthday or anniversary, is that it takes you out of the immediacy of the day, and as people in recovery it is so important to count today first and remember everything else comes later.

This just means that if there’s something I want to do or change about my life, I start today – maybe just a little step like adding five minutes to my walk or not skipping breakfast.

Rather than look to make a long (usually intimidating) list for New Year’s, what can you do today to move toward the goals you want to achieve?