"Agony is truth it's our connection to the living,
i accept it as perfection, and keep on existing in the now."

One day at a time. I hear this brought up in AA a lot. It is a helpful reminder not to get ahead of ourselves. Worrying about the future can become overwhelming. This saying reminds us to scale back, and think in terms of what can I do today. For those in AA that might mean getting to a meeting, or not drinking today.

For someone with mental illness this catch-phrase works as an excellent motivator. It reminds us that today we can choose to recover. That what we do today can bring us closer to a life worth living, and the work that goes into it happens one day at a time.

When each day is thought of as an opportunity, we begin to do the work of recovery.

Excerpt from, The Center Cannot Hold by: Elyn Saks.

"Schizophrenia rolls in like a slow fog, becoming imperceptibly thicker as time goes on. At first, the day is bright enough, the sky is clear, the sunlight warms your shoulders. But soon, you notice a haze beginning to gather around you, and the air feels not quite so warm. After a while, the sun is a dim lightbulb behind a heavy cloth. The horizon has vanished into a gray mist, and you feel a thick dampness in your lungs as you stand, cold and wet, in the afternoon dark." p. 35

More noise.

Recovery noise.

Remember to take it day by day. Each day presents new challenges. Just as well each day you must find new challenges. Make small goals everyday, and if you can continue to work toward larger goals. This is said time and time again for a reason. It helps! It helps you feel more in control. The next time you're stuck in park take out the small pad you've been carrying around and write down some simple goals. Give your day the direction it needs to be a positive one.