shkoyach serene!

but what du u mean: we will always win? how do u measure success in this arena?

have a great shabbos

Toras Emes GUARANTEES(!): "If someone says, 'I have worked hard and I have not been successful, don't believe him'. If someone says, 'I have not worked hard and I have been successful,' don't believe him. If someone says, 'I have worked hard, and I have been successful,' believe him!!!" (Megilla, 6b)...In other words, a Jew being unsuccessful after trying hard is not reality from G-d's point of view. It doesn't exist.

(don't confuse success with money. Plenty(!) Of Jews are not wealthy by any means, and have great shalom bayis, healthy children, are loved by the community, and are happy with 'sipuk hanefesh').

Hashem sees us Jews as hard working, community people accomplished, healthy and happy with our lot.

He says clearly in His Torah, straight to us:
"Easy?", "I don't believe you". 

"Not successful?", "still I don't believe you". "

"Hard working AND successful!?!", "YES! Now I believe you!"

Our compassionate Father's words, directly and lovingly spoken to each and every one of us, one on one. We each have a wondrous success story of our own... Hashem is on our side. Yes, also when we are 'struggling'.

(Granted, gaining momentum takes time. Every sponser always told me "it's easier to stay sober than to get sober".. My experience is that, even though in my early stages of recovery/sobriety, I was 'wishy-washy' and stumbled, nevertheless, with time and hishtadlus/serenity/surrender-surrender-surrender/prayer/learning/dibuk chaverim/acts of kindness, and a VERY caring VERY intimate and VERY loving G-d,  the above 'promise' is absolutely true.. One day and one miracle at a time

All the small victories will eventually lead up to a 'success story' you are happy to share with someone who needs to hear it, and most importantly, you are happy to call 'your own'.

shkoyach

A gut voch and gut yom tov to all. 'R.Shimon is worthy that we can rely on him in a time of need'..

gadlus ha'adam question: how do we relate to a regular, clean day? is it a victory to be celebrated just like a fall is contemplated? is it on the same level? maybe its higher....

  or is it nothing special- just a day that the YH is taking off waiting to get us tomorrow--?

We relate to it in the way that is most useful to us, whether it is "true", "sensible", "realistic", or not. Period. If the way we relate to today's sobriety ends up making it easier for us to be sober tomorrow, then it's fine. But if it ends up making it harder to be sober tomorrow, then we have a problem.

And there is no way we can plan it out and figure out what will make it so - it happens naturally - or we can model the way we think after those for whom it is working already. That's what I did, and it's working for me, too!

And I really like you, you know?

Hey SG "how do we relate to a regular, clean day?"...  How do u relate to it?

i have to give it more thought ss. thx guys.

Like dove so perfectly put it. If it leads to more productivity, growth and happiness you're on the right path

right i guess i was asking more theologically , but its true we have no idea how these things are calculated 'up there'

Who the heck cares about what Hashem thinks about something? It's vanity, chasing after wind, and will not be thr truth anyhow - there is always a true way to see what we are doing as pathetic - and a way to see it as good progress. "Hanistoros laShem elokeinu  - vehaniglos lanu ulv'oneinu ad Olam la'asos es divrei haTorah hazos", Moshe Rabbeinu told us. He was right.

true. i guess it doesnt really matter what a clean day is. just glad to have them.

After describing all the not-so-nice events that may befall the Jewish People if they don’t behave so well, Moses then states point-blank, what exactly is this not nice behavior that invites all these problems: “Because you did not serve G?d, your L?rd, with joy and a happy heart"... Being glad is a great thing not to be underestimated..

  fell last shabbos morning and this morning today The four days in between were all clean BH

was gnna look last night at stuff but some quick texting to maccabee helped me turn it off and go to sleep (after watching some tv)
bh