because an attitude of gratitude is one that keeps stress away
I don’t believe that we could ever think too much about gratitude. When I am counting my blessings, I do not have time to moan and groan. At one time, I thought that I had no blessings. It seemed like everything was a waste.
I had thought about committing suicide and backed out at the last minute each time. “What good is my life if I feel like I do?” I quickly saw many in the program who I knew had been just as miserable as I had been before starting to work the AA Program who were now happy, joyous, and free.
So, I had some incentive to follow their next suggestion of “Fake it till you make it.” I then faked thinking well of being alive and started to look for other “excuses” to feel better.
I was noticing that, as I “faked it,” I started feeling better about myself. This led quickly to my feeling better about others. This triggered my seeing that others were also looking at and treating me differently.
This was showing me that the Spiritual Law of Attraction really works. What I put into life, I get in return. Just like what I put into a mirror is exactly what I get back. Some of the people who I had previously thought of as real jerks were turning into pretty nice people.
Is every day full of chuckles? Of course not, but if you don’t drink or drug today, you have choices and I choose to be Happy, Joyous, and Free. Problems are a way of life. When you have a problem, you can choose what to do about it rather than have the problem control you.
Do I like everyone that I meet? Of course not, but that is all right as long as I can see the Christ in them, love them for that, and move on. See how simple this program really is? Not always easy because my human tendencies sometimes enter the situation, but really simple.
I have discovered that the more that I do for others, the more I feel good about myself. I love that feeling, I try to do this regularly. This is a complete 180 from what I once firmly believed.
The solution is not rocket science. It only requires that I don’t drink, have an open mind, and help others. It can’t get much simpler than this. My Step 3s now include many more “Thank you Gods’ than “God Help Me.”
I still say “God Help Me” when at one of life’s forks in the road but then when it is done, it is quickly followed with “Thank you, God.” The more gratitude you have, the more you have to be grateful for.
It works for me and I firmly believe it can work for you, but only if you choose it. What do you really want?” Do you want to be Happy, Joyous, and Free? Then “Fake it till you make it!”
I have been in a position to see, regularly, many reasons to be grateful. Zombie meth addicts complaining about the alcoholics. Alcoholics moaning about the addicts. Bipolar people groaning about alcoholics and addicts. Alcoholics and addicts saying that their only problem was that they were Bipolar.
Then there are the people truly grateful for a lunch which will probably be the only meal that they have today, or more probably for several days. Another was grateful that his furnace was fixed with a cheap DIY fix by a friend and for the first time in 5 years he had heat in the Michigan winter.
A “zombie” spraying himself with Lysol so that we all would know that he was now clean and not carrying Covid. And the beat and list go on! And on! And on! I knew a long time ago that there but for the grace of God go I.
Why? Because my name is Jim and I am an alcoholic. When I was introduced to the AA Program, I had no religious or spiritual background. There were many people in my own neighborhood who were alcoholics, addicts, homeless, and generally dysfunctional.
The thought that I would maybe become one of them was never far from my mind. What a breath of fresh air it was to learn that my former God was not really that judgmental, punishing, tyrant that I had been taught about.
He was a loving, forgiving Power who wanted nothing but the best for me. And He started showing me how through the others in the program. Because of my background, I didn’t even, at first, want to call my Higher Power God because of the way that I had thought of Him.
When I came into AA, I was spiritually, emotionally, and physically bankrupt. I saw the positive changes taking place in the people in the meetings and wanted it so badly that I was willing to go to any lengths to get it, too.
I was shown that it is very simple but not always easy. Simply because very little effort is needed by me. Hard because of the baggage that I was still carrying and, through the program, losing.
I very easily could have been one of these people who I see every week in the Soup Kitchen in St Andrews Church on Flint’s impoverished, crime-plagued East Side. Every day is not one filled with laughs and chuckles but every day is one that I am Happy, Joyous, and Free.
Happy because you folks are showing me that this program is very much worth the effort it takes to get and keep.
Joyous because I am now on the giving side of the fence, not taking and fighting for more.
Free from the influence of any mind-altering substances. For all of this, I am truly grateful for you and all of the others who came before us and were and are willing to share.
As the country philosopher and vocalist Travis Tritt sings “It’s a great day to be alive!”… and I second that emotion.
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