I am truly Happy, Joyous, and Ulcer Free
I am truly Happy, Joyous, and ulcer Free. So much so, that I hope and pray that you all will also be if you are not now.
I have not always been this way. When I was drinking and somewhat after coming into the program, I was a very large, very angry, very violent, well-armed, and trained being.
I held no hope that things would ever be different because that was all that I knew at the time.
I didn’t agree with you so I answered it with anger. Didn’t trust you so I answered it with anger. I didn’t like you so I answered it with anger. Didn’t know if I agreed with you or not so I responded with anger. On and on and on, like in a squirrel cage.
I didn’t like me so I hated you. Hated you so I hurt you. I hurt you and felt guilty. I felt guilty and got remorse. Got remorse, an ulcer and continued drinking and hurt you again and on and on and on.
This made me one who was afraid of what was going to happen next and saw no way out. I didn’t know that it was being fed by my alcoholism. I didn’t know that I was an alcoholic until I came into AA.
When I first came into the program it was for all the wrong reasons. At the meetings where I was introduced to the AA program, How it Works was read before almost every meeting. I quickly heard loud and clear the 2nd paragraph.
It said “If you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it then COD.” (Come On Down)
I had heard about this being a spiritual program and, not being religious. Was ready to listen to more. I saw what I wanted for me in your faces and actions at meetings. And wanted it so bad I could almost taste it.
I truly was willing to go to any lengths to get the peace and serenity that I saw in you folks. I was advised to Fake it ‘till I made it. So I acted “as if” and saw immediate relief, even if it was only a little at first.
I kept on “faking it” and things just continued to get better. I dug deep into Spirituality because my sponsors had told and showed me that the program’s base was Spirituality.
Soon I got a copy of the 24 Hour book. I got all of the information that I could get from Emmet Fox, who I had been told had been the Spiritual Advisor for Bill W. and many of the earliest members of the program.
I read his Sermon on the Mount cover to cover quickly and often initially. Because I had been told that it was used by many of the original members as the first Big Book.
Guess What? I was losing my ulcer, my anger and frustration. And I was actually working on being a better person to everyone. The rewards were almost immediate.
I was becoming Happy, Joyous, and Free. I was staying Happy, Joyous, and Free as long as I worked my program. The bottom line is, that when I work my program, I truly know Serenity.
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Howard Thurman
Without the program in my life, I was morally, spiritually, and physically bankrupt. Now I am a spiritually wealthy man. The beautiful thing is that you, no matter what your present circumstances, can be too.
How? Work your program to the best of your ability 24/7/365. Do this by just doing the next right thing. Simple as that! Just Do It and come back and tell me all about it! Thank you, God!