Finding Poetry in the Prosaic

A plain white bowl containing produce. I can look at it any way I choose. But I choose to see it as beautiful. Colorful. Nourishment. Deliciousness.

I could also say, those damn tomatoes were $3.50 a pound. The lemons, 3 for a dollar. The avocados, 4 for $5.00 - as if that's a bargain! Oh, and the tablecloth has a big honkin' stain on it from an AA event held at my house where someone knocked over a candle and failed to mention it to anyone.

But, I am gainfully employed, so I actually had the money to purchase those items. And I am grateful my tastes run to that type of food rather than a donut or french fries. I have friends who come and visit - and one of my friends helped me to scrape the candle wax off the tablecloth and the jute rug beneath the table. Another blogger gave me a tip for getting rid of the stain on the cloth (thanks Syd!).

Do you know that when I got sober and read the big book, I had to look up the word "prosaic?" I thought it was a special kind of "steel girder," with tons of atomic particles spinning around! I was surprised to learn that it meant "ordinary." Or also "Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty."

I am sponsoring a woman who gets angry and calls people such things as "f***ing b****" etc. I recently suggested to her that she stop imprinting her brain with such harsh labels for people, that it would make it difficult to turn her thoughts around. I suggested she instead think to herself - "gosh, that person is not telling the truth" or "gee, she seems to be talking about me to her friend, I wonder if that is really the case or if I just think so." She looked at me like I was nuts.

But I think it is all about how we think of things and what we call them. Our words and our labels are important. They make a lasting impression on our souls.

So, I think I shall go forth, back to my workplace for this week. I will do the best job I possibly can and try to be a positive peer to all I meet. Perhaps my smile will make a difference to someone I run into today.

I get to do this as a sober person. Thank God.