“I have tried to quit drinking a thousand times and never could stay quit.” I thought that I had tried everything. Willpower was #1. I discovered that I was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupt when I came into the AA Program. Did not have a clue as to how serenity felt.
I became willing to go to ANY lengths to get the program. So, I finally really started working it to the best of my ability in ALL of my affairs. I discovered that I was becoming an entirely different person. One who loved. Was loved. Cared. Was interested in so much. And not hurting a soul. One who now has a great life. And, as time went on, this was only the beginning. EVERYTHING that I have today I owe to the program of AA. Including breathing in followed by out.
I have children that no longer fear me. They actually love me openly. A wife that has never seen me drink. And who has given me a family life that I never had even as a child. A clear mind that seems to have the right answer to most problems. No matter how complicated. If I wake up in the middle of the night it is to go to the bathroom. Not because I am bothered by anything.
I text our children, grandchildren and some friends and other relatives weekly. This is just to let them know that they are being thought of. This has been going on for several years. I get responses from most of them. On the rare occasion that I am late sending the weekly text, some even contact me to see if all is well. WOW!
My sobriety means EVERYTHING to me. Without it, I am the same person I was when entering the program. A walking dead man. I am alive. I have serenity. A great life. I continue working my program to the best of my ability. I intend on staying that way.
How did I get my sobriety? How do I plan on keeping it? First, by realizing that stopping drinking alone does not make me sober. Only the 1st half of the 1st Step even mentions alcohol. The other 11 ½ are all about our thinking. Change your thinking, change your life. By working my program to the best of my ability. Not only during meetings but also in my everyday affairs 24/7/365. This gives you a great life. This is a promise.
“To work my program 24/7/365, do I have to constantly think about not drinking and the horrible things that I did in my past?” Emphatically, NO! I work my program 24/7/365 by simply constantly trying to do the next right thing. “But, how do I know what the right thing is?” Simply, if it feels good, it is right. This is using the Spiritual Law of Attraction.
If there is any apprehension at all, step back and reconsider. God does not use language to communicate with us. He does communicate with us, though, all the time. We just should try to understand how He is communicating. If you are working your program to the best of your ability, you will realize more. That instincts, intuition, and what is going on around us is how He communicates. Gut feelings, unannounced shivers’ or vibrations are just two ways of communication between God and you.
AA introduced me to my Higher Power, who I now call God. To disagree with a popular phrase, God is not my copilot, he is my pilot. As long as I remember this and act accordingly, I will be able to continue to meet with you and others like you, and, most assuredly, I will continue being too blessed to be stressed. God bless you all!
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