"Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us"
Well, I just gotta share this...
So, today was my annual review. They started out by saying, "Congrats on your work in AA. There's a big difference and it shows. The first six months of last year you were stressed-out, drunk or hungover most of the time and kind of an asshole but you sold more than your fair share so we didn't fire you. These last six months you're much more relaxed and accepting, always in your right mind, you look good, are a nice guy to have around and you still sell more than your fair share. When you sobered up, we were afraid your creativity might dry up...but it hasn't. Good job and good year. You wanna go full commission instead of base-plus?"
I was a little scared. Full commission can be scary, then we ran the numbers. I was basically offered a minimum 20% raise for the taking. Sweeeeeet.
So I said... "Great. Now I have a Wish-List. I'm buying a used laptop and a wireless subscription with part of my bonus. I want you guys to upgrade our technology so that I can reach my office e-mail via internet, e-mail in my orders and I'd like you guys to add a wi-fi router to the station so I don't have to share a computer with the other sales guys."
I was NOT expecting a "yes" on any of this stuff. Radio station owners are notoriously...thrifty. I got a "yes" on all three. Now I can be out on the road 25% more of my day actually selling, instead of being tied to the office internet, e-mail and paper-trail.
They would NOT be trusting me with this kind of freedom if I was still an unreliable, insecure loose-cannon that always smokin' weed and reeked of booze.
Other New-Comers; if you stick with the program, especially when you stumble, this program will make a HUGE difference not only in your life, but in the lives of those around you.
Thanks, God. I turned my will over to You and You gave me serenity, courage and a wee bit o' wisdom.
Thanks all you AA folks. We can't do it without each other.
Tonight I celebrated with a cup of Earl Grey and broke out my special stash of Tupalo honey. Mmmmmm.
Let Earl Grey continue to be your "hard stuff" and your "tupalo honey" also. Letting go and letting God has many benefits and for me they are the bonuses in my life.
Yes indeed. The 9th step promises all came true and continue to bless me as a result of working the first 9 steps as well as the remaining steps of the program.
Good for you Aquaman ... a raise and promotion are definately a blessing in the economical crisis the country is currently in.
"Let Earl Grey continue to be your "hard stuff" and your "tupalo honey" also." ______________________________________________________________________
reminds me of a Hank Jr. song- "corn bread and ice tea took the place of pills and ninety-proof, and it seems like none of us do things quite like we used to do and nobody wants to get high on the town and all my rowdy friends have settled down."
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 15th of January 2010 08:33:14 AM
I'm not sure what town in the American South it's made in, but honey bees make Tupelo honey from the nectar of the blossoms of the Tupelo Tree, grown and groved only to make this honey, which blossoms only three weeks a year. It's extremely pure and will never, ever, ever mold or crystallize. The taste has a multi-layered flavor that starts out sweet and ends with a finish like fresh sweet-cream butter.
My wife got me a 4oz. jar for Christmas three years ago because she knew I love good honey and Van Morrison music is a turn-on. I know, TMI, but I have yet to meet a woman who does NOT say that Van Morrison gives 'em a shiver.
Congats Rob! This is confirmation that you being sober does have rather immediate rewards. I suggest the next time your disease talks to you and makes you think it is okay to slip up, remember these good things that are happening as a result of simply not drinking. I do want to point out that the promises do not say "financial insecurity will leave us." It says "Fear of financial insecurity will leave us." The promises come true as our fears leave us and have done a lot of work on ourselves. I don't want to say that this is not an example of the promises coming true...but to me...those promises mean I am a stronger person and I am no longer afraid of everything. It means I don't have to drink even if I am going into the poor house. It means I can have serenity and be of use to others no matter what I am going through. This is what long term sobriety has to offer me and those promises come true in different ways over time and with work on my part. I listen to oldtimers who say they have been rich and poor, sick and healthy, have had relatives die, have endured break ups..and they did not have to drink over any of it. These things are inevitabilities in life. For them, the promises came true even though bad stuff happened because they were connected spiritually, not afraid, not self seeking, and they stuck it out in AA and stayed sober. I guess my point is Rob, I don't want you to think even if you got fired tomorrow that the program was worthless...Yes rewards are there immediately from staying sober, but you are working towards a lifestyle and a state of mind more than anything outside yourself. With that said, congrats again on the promotion! You did earn it through your sobriety efforts largely and it is incentive to keep working the program even harder.
Mark
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Good point Mark. Our financial situation is fluid and subject to change but if we have are grounded, in our spiritual condition, with a good working relationship with our high power, we will have the faith to ride the wave at it's highs and lows. A word of caution Aquadude, when success and oportunities happen, we tend to sabotage them from deeply seeded fears of abandoment which, deep down, tell us that anything good that comes our way will be taken away so might as well push it away first. We feel this because, again deep down, we feel that we don't deserve them. Working for true self esteem and self worth (hard work) will change these feelings or substantially lessen there impact on us.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Friday 15th of January 2010 08:51:16 AM
Congratulations, Rob! I'm really happy for you and I think it's great that people can see such positive changes in you! You've done a lot of hard work and deserve the kudos!
Remember this good stuff when the days get tough... you're capable of so much.
"I guess my point is Rob, I don't want you to think even if you got fired tomorrow that the program was worthless...Yes rewards are there immediately from staying sober, but you are working towards a lifestyle and a state of mind more than anything outside yourself."
So true! A lovely AA old timer I know, often winks & smiles and gives exactly the same response to good or bad stuff happening......... ..........."This too shall pass!"
Used to irritate the hell out of me but I see and get her point now! ! ! xx
Thanks ya'll - and thanks too for the words of caution. I understand that it is the absence of fear which has been fulfilled.
Some wise old man in Florida once said, "Generally speaking people will receive you in a manner that's mostly reflective of how you see yourself. That's human nature."
I think he sells time-shares, volcano insurance, used wave-runners or something like that.
"Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us"
but I see and get her point now! ! ! 