Never too late to start your day over

Lessons heard at AA meetings can stick for a long time, sometimes because the share is dramatic, but often because the lessons in the share are frequently used.

Peggy D. was stalwart at our Monday night meeting. She passed on long ago, still spiritually growing when she moved on to the Big Meeting in the Sky.

She was a salesperson for a moving company; her workday consisted of calling on customers, driving from one appointment to another, fighting downtown traffic and hunting for parking spaces. At our AA meeting, she shared a trick she had learned and applied regularly, a trick which I still remember and use.

I recall she said, “today was difficult. Everything was going wrong. There were no parking spaces, the traffic lights were against me, customers complained, and I felt put upon.

“At my next call, I asked to use the bathroom. I went in and locked the cubicle door, sat down, and started my day over. I turned my mind to God and told Him that I thought I had a great start in the morning, but it was wearing off, and I needed a reset. I thanked Him because everywhere I go, bathrooms are available, which allows me a quiet moment to restart my day.

“I have, over the years, restarted my days many, many times. And I have found that wherever I am, there is nearly always a bathroom nearby that I can use to get by myself and reset, restart and begin my day anew.

That lesson and that share from decades ago is still with me today.

It is not because of the drama that the thought is still with me; it is with me because I have used it frequently. When I feel put upon and beset with problems, I look for a bathroom. I lock myself in a cubicle, turn my mind to God, restart my day, then walk out, arm in arm with God, ready to face the world.

Peggy was right; I can restart my day at any time.