“What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists....and it becomes available only when you are in that state of mind in which you know exactly what you want....and are fully determined not to quit until you get it.” -Alexander Graham Bell
“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all we need to make us really HAPPY is something to be ENTHUSIASTIC about.” -C. Kingsley
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” -Confucius
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Statement #11, “Enthusiasm is my daily exercise.”
I treasure all moments of my new life.
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+ Karen’s Perspective +
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In just a couple of days, I will be boarding an airplane and heading off to Pennsylvania for the annual WFS Conference. I feel excited; I feel a bit nervous (will I pack everything?) and I feel enthusiasm surging through every cell of my being. Friends from near and far will be arriving, hugging, and smiling ear to ear as each of the many 4C women converge into this sweet small town.
The one thing I will not need to pack will be my enthusiasm. It is with me every day, in many ways. My enthusiasm begins the previous June, after having just returned home from a weekend of 4Cness. With me, I carry the joy, laughter and love and find myself energized and renewed. It carries me throughout the entire year. It is time to recharge my batteries.
Some women will not attend this year, unsure of this unknown adventure; yet will find themselves secretly gathering their courage and begin planning for 2016. Some women may have just found WFS this week and are ready to begin their New Life. Still others, unable to venture, will be there in spirit and love. No matter where we are on our journey of recovery, this week is a brand new adventure just waiting to be discovered!
See YOU later this week! Hugzzz, Karen
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+ Dee’s Insights +
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Hi 4C Women, Renewed, refreshed is what the WFS Conference brings to me. I wasn’t sure I could attend due to my daughter’s health and I am so excited and enthused that I will be able to make my annual trip up north. In addition to the conference, I will be visiting my sister in PA and my son in NJ, along with friends I cherish. I wish there were enough words to express the joy I experience in seeing all the 4C women at the conference; reconnecting with those who have inspired me and taught me life lessons through the years. It’s also rewarding to meet women who are just beginning this journey and see the enthusiasm spread throughout the week-end. I also think of Statement 3: Happiness is a habit I will develop. Happiness is created, not waited for. Making the decision to attend the conference and to see my family and friends is creating my own happiness.
Lately, choosing to be enthusiastic every day has been a challenge; yet, I never lose sight of how all of the WFS statements keep me grounded. That grounded feeling may be reaching out to others who give me the space to vent, to cry, to LISTEN and remind me that I need to take care of myself in order to care for others. That is the beauty of WFS - those who know and practice the program understand that life can be extremely challenging and we are all here to support one another. Needing help and knowing when to accept it is all part of the growing process in recovery. Being sober doesn’t mean you don’t experience difficult situations and hurtful or scary feelings, it means you choose to cope in other ways and one of those is to seek support and encouragement from those who understand and care. That is WFS. -Dee
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Thank you, Karen and Dee, for your words of encouragement and inspiration to start off our week! ~Becky Fenner, WFS Director
