One Day at a Time

What does it mean to live One Day at a Time?

The family disease of alcoholism often forces us into a state of "future-tripping," where we are constantly bracing for the next crisis or mourning the mistakes of the past. Living "One Day at a Time" is the spiritual practice of pulling our focus back to the only moment we actually inhabit: the present. It is a tool of immense relief that breaks down the overwhelming mountain of a lifetime of problems into manageable, twenty-four-hour segments. By narrowing our horizon, we stop fighting battles that haven't happened yet and stop dragging the weight of yesterday into today’s sunlight.

This slogan teaches us that we do not have to solve every problem or make every major life decision this morning. We only have to get through today with dignity and sanity. When twenty-four hours feels too long, we can even break it down to one hour or one minute at a time. This focus on the "now" allows us to find gratitude and beauty in small moments that we used to overlook while we were busy obsessing over the future. By staying in the present, we find the grace and strength necessary for today's work, trusting that tomorrow will have a grace of its own.