There are occasions in life when no really means no. I am not really the kind of guy who accepts no for an answer but occasionally I hear the word No and I can’t possibly ignore the implications.
When I first got sober I had to make endless amends to many people. I had to address the wreckage of my past. It is not always easy to hear an apology so I rarely use the word sorry. When I had to make amends to people I had hurt whilst using drugs and alcohol I started any apology with these words: “I was wrong.” I was wrong to have stolen from you, I was wrong to have lied to you, I was wrong to have deceived you etc. etc.
Some people were simply no longer around to make amends to or some I had made so angry that they could never hear even one word from me let alone an apology so I made, what we call, a living amends, which meant that whatever I had done to the aggrieved I would never do again to another person. That if I had cheated I would not cheat. If I had stolen I would not steal.
Obviously they, the other, would not care either way if I cheated or stole ever again but my commitment to the living amends meant that I never need bring more people to the same sad conclusion about me. This may seem obvious to you but to a selfish, self obsessed addict this is not obvious at all.
I am in an odd mood today. I am happy but I am expecting the worst. I am sure about my path but too lazy to take the next step.
Insanely busy day yesterday. Climbed Runyon. Popped over to see Amanda and Kay. Saw Sean over in Malibu at his farm. Had lunch with Mel. Drove home, CRAWLED home on the congested 10 Freeway and then couldn’t, for the life of me, find parking so parked illegally. I was just desperate to get under a hot shower. Thankfully, I did not get another parking ticket.
Had delicious dinner last night at Osteria Mozza. Actually, it was an OK dinner but the company was great. The food was expensive and poorly executed. I sent the first course back because it was literally inedible. Bad food made better with inspiring conversation. I left my phone in the car so when I got back there were lovely text messages to read.
I slept long and hard.
This morning had very long, shitty conversation with HSBC in the UK. Really bad. Then, on the way to Runyon, my friend JP called me to make a reservation for him at a restaurant he couldn’t get into but apparently I can. Made me feel like a glorified personal assistant. Had long, very long (but delightful) conversation with Philippa about my June trip back home to the UK. I really can’t wait to get home for a little while.
The NO came after that. It was so definite and clear but rather than it rattling me I simply asked to get my own needs met and handed the whole caboose and caboodle over to God.
Amen.