One Day at a Time

This is a familiar slogan in the 12-Step programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, and many other Anonymous groups.  It speaks of the need to take one's program one step at a time, a meal at a time, a moment at a time, rather than looking out to a future lifetime of "deprivation." So it is with me.  Each time I fall off the proverbial wagon, I endeavor to stick to my program from here on, and then have an anxiety attack at the prospect of "never again" having a piece of chocolate, or going "my whole life" without pizza or ice cream.  That is self-defeating, because the reality is that I only exist this instant.  I am alive now, and now is a mere instant.  I have no "future lifetime" - all I have is now.  And if I can resist that siren call this moment, distract myself, dance around the room, take a bath or sing out loud, what I'm doing is taking care of the present moment.  And a life consists of many present moments.