Just taking a minute to drop by and say "HI" to each and every one of you, from the East Coast of Canada.

Have been away since Saturday and comming back this Saturday. Thinking of you all.:)

Spending quality time with my wife here a week a month, and pretty grateful for this program and Someone UP There, that runs the whole show.

As Rick has mentioned ---when we just surrender, and just try to do our best, sober, one day at a time, a lot of things in our lives get better, as long as we stay out of our way.:)

To the newcommers here-----Its not easy somedays. This getting sober, and learning how to live life on lifes terms is not an easy task for a lot of us.

I too, had a lot of wreckage, and amends, and things to rectify from the past. There were some of those things when I first got sober, that caused a lot of anxiety and fear.

Courts, money owing, no job, no income, --I used to go to the AA meetings for a while, that had food after the meeting--just to be able to eat some days. I hated asking anyone for help. I felt different from others. I felt alone and helpless, a lot of days.

But yu know what? I finally got it through my head that each and every one of us was no different. We had been down, maybe different roads to get here--but we are not alone. We all have the same fears, anxieties, emmotions, and have been through, and are going through a lot of experiences in our lives that each and every one of us can identify with. We are not different. We all have a disease called Alcoholism.

Isnt it just great just to feel that we belong and fit in somewhere? I never had that feeling before in my life.

We do not judge each other. We do not criticize each other. We understand what each other is going through-We share with each other with love and caring for one another, with experience strength in numbers, and hope.

Normal street people cannot give what we can give, and get in return. Social drinkers cant identify with us either.

But we understand. Pretty great feeling isnt it.

And how many of us had to die, or wind up in mental institutions. Thousands upon thousands, and getting worse every day.

We are but a chosen few that made it here. Gotta be pretty grateful hu?

So we got it? How do we keep it?  We give it away to others that follow in our footsteps, and we do that with love.

Love---a big word that I knew nothing about for a long time.

AA teaches what the word means, and when we learn how to use love in the right way, we receive back tenfold, what we learn to give.

Love is AA. Love is in each and every one of us. Love is giving of ourselves to help others and share with others, with our hearts. For years I never knew it was possible.

Ever hear the song "Looking for love in all the wrong Places?"  Yup. Been there.

We learn through the program to first love ourselves, then we learn how to give it freely to others.

Hey Guys---have a great day, and a great week.   With Love.

Hi Phil, This is my first time on this site. I read your post and thought it was very helpful. Thank you for sharing.

HI Phil

great post

how simple it can be

somedays i still have to fight until it hurts

then and only then am I ready to take a good look at ME.

Been a lot busier than I want to be.

trying to get a little serenity

Had to run to my safe place--a meeting

Sometimes you go to get alittle help and end up giving it.

The man next to you says wow what a great topic I needed that bad!!

funny thing???  I think not--Just the way it's suppose be

3 am not sleeping    the monkey is bowling  just to much going on

Sloooooow  down   Whats it all worth if we drink???

Just thinking to the key board  Take care  Rick