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Step 1 states: We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable.
Everything has a starting place. For an alcoholic who is finally sick and tired of being sick and tired and wants to get better, it is the 1st Step of this amazing process of recovery.
The most beautiful of butterflies started out as an ugly bug-like creature called a caterpillar. Then it becomes a creation that brightens up the sky.
The fastest human alive, maybe an Olympic sprinter, started out not even being able to stand, let alone run on tiny legs when leaving its mother’s womb.
The strongest person in the world couldn’t raise anything above their own voice when born.
The most inspirational person you have ever known in recovery couldn’t even guarantee that he or she was going to get out of a dry or urine-soaked bed when in the madness and starting this program.
So, for the rest of us, we start out with Step 1. Something was wrong in my life, horribly wrong, and I was not sure just what it was, just that I have no control over how I am feeling and acting.
This feeling may take any form — “I see no reason to even live anymore, no one can do the right thing without my doing it for them, is everyone in the world an a-hole?” “Why am I feeling so sick all the time?”
“Why am I always injuring myself?” “I can outdrink anyone.” “How can that person only sip a little from their drink and then walk away,” and on and on and on to now — should I live or die?
“Darn, this gun oil is not tasting so bad now that I have stuck my pistol in my mouth so many times trying to get the courage to pull the trigger (or in the case of a pistol in my mouth, push the trigger).”
“Why can’t I guarantee my actions after starting to drink? I am driving home from work and call ahead to say I’m only going to stop for a drink and then I will be home.” Telling the truth as I knew it at the time.
And then, either having a drink and going home, or ending up closing the bar and going home, or closing the bar and going to a blind pig and then going home.
Or leaving the pig and breaking out in spots, spots such as Cleveland, Chicago, or Windsor, and not remembering all or most of where I had been or what I had done.
I once discovered a spent cartridge casing in my pistol that I always carried and was terrified because I didn’t remember firing it.
My life was totally unmanageable and I now knew that I was powerless over alcohol. The thing that terrified me was that I didn’t have a clue how to get out of it or if I even really wanted to.
I was that ugly bug that only knew crawling around on the ground, not knowing that there was beauty and flight in me just waiting for me to be ready.
Well, my friend, the miracles of flight and beauty are yours and the only thing that you have to do to achieve it is to be willing to believe that it is for you.
If you are having trouble believing that it is yours for the taking, just do the best you can and let us believe for you. If you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it, then COD, Come On Down.
We have the belief in you that, by sticking around, not picking up that first drink, and working this amazing program to the best of your ability, you will have for yourself. THAT IS A PROMISE!
I won’t lie and neither do these others and we PROMISE you that your life will get better STARTING RIGHT NOW if you are willing to do a little work WITH US.
Yup, I said with us because you never have to feel alone again, unless you choose to for some reason. This Step is thought of by many in the Program as being only for the newcomers but it is for ALL who are working a day at a time to stay sober.
None of the rest of the Steps mention anything about alcohol. They ALL are about how we change our thinking and become Happy, Joyous, and Free. Thank you, God!
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