I just had to pop on to say that I celebrated an anniversary. I had 25 years yesterday, and I have a hard time believing it myself. I had just turned 16 when I came to my first AA meeting, and I was 17 when I finally got sober (drinking and going to meetings really helps!!!)
I laughed last night at my home group (a women's big book study) when they read the passage to be discussed, it was about the retired man who hasn't had a drink in a while and "out comes the carpet slippers and a bottle". Of all things to have read on a big anniversary - the part that reminds us that no matter how long we have clean, we are just as alcoholic as day one. I was glad to be told that I still have an alcoholic mind, regardless of my time and what my life has been like these past 25 years. Thank you God, since I know that topic was personally chosen for me (hahaha!)
My husband isn't in the program so he doesn't understand it all, it is the one thing that makes me feel less close to him. He is an amazing person and a wonderful partner and father, I really couldn't have asked for anything better. He is supportive but he's not a drunk. Just as I will NEVER be able to truly understand his ability (and desire) to drink one beer, he will never be able to understand my inability to do so. So I have to turn to my AA friends to help this fact to sink in - I'm one of those OLD timers, hahaha! Thanks to all of you for helping me keep a focus on the steps and my sobriety through these last few years. I love this board and it has helped me in many ways through a number of life changes.
Congratulations on a Quarter Century of Sobriety!! Its important to share so that newcomers will know the program works.
Love your Avatar. A Camel how appropriate for AA.
Larry, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've been driven to a good attitude by being hit over the head by self-will
Congratulations! We are vessels for the newcomer to show 'the program works" I also celebrated 25 years,3 months ago, only by the grace of God and by "doing some work"Thanks for helping keeping us sober one day at a timeI think I'll drink to that,it will be water with lemon though :)
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Happy 25th Anniversary.of Sobriety ..Great Job...and Pray you will always have these birthdays, one day at a time. No, we can never take them for granted....you sound wonderful today with all that you are going through, probably cause all of those things are really good exciting things too, when the fear is removed, right?
I wanted to mention, about 2 years ago, a very precious friend gave me an AA coin, it is a dark brass color, I had never seen one before, it was for my 18th Birthday, and it had a beautiful picture of a Camel - just like your sign in, and on the other side, a beautiful verse of the daily life of a camel..... sort of tieing it into how we live our lifes. I just got up and looked for it, and could not find it, But I will find it soon and when I do, I will write it out to you, the verse on the coin, pretty sure you will love it.
Anyway, copying you words from another Post, "well I Digress", haha.
Again, Wishing you a wonderful day or evening now...
Toni got me wondering so I searched and found this on the Internet
Larry
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Bobs story of the AA Camel
The Alcoholics Anonymous Camel symbol
The camel each day goes twice to his knees. He picks up his load with the greatest of ease. He walks through the day with his head held high. And stays for that day, completely dry.
Spiritual Principles
Prayer Faith Spirituality Sobriety One day at a time.
Dr Bob, physician, and a cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous ". . . would explain prayer by telling how the camels in a caravan would kneel down in the evening, and the men would unload their burdens. In the morning, they would kneel down again, and the men would put the burdens back on. Its the same with prayer, Dr. Bob said. We get on our knees to unload at night. And in the morning when we get on our knees again, God gives us just the load we are able to carry for that day." Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers (1980), page 229
CAMEL PRAYER
"The tasks of the day can pass with ease when a camel or I start on our knees. One Master we serve, the camel and I, and stay for that day completely dry."
Aloha Jen...CELEBRATE IT GIRL!! This has an awesome meaning for us. And you did it just one day at a time. I'm happy for you. Yowzers!! Now just repeat it.
Congrats on 25 Jen! What an inspiration you are to have stayed sober all throughout your 20's and 30's and the adult years of your teens. I'd say that the hardest years are behind you. I've not met anyone that has as much sobriety at such a young age, very cool. We are fortunate to have you and Rob84, who also has 25 years and got sober at 23. I went to my first AA meeting at 15. Went to several more at 16, 17, 18, 20. My Mother got sober in '75 when I was 15. I knew that I was a teenage alcoholic and drug addict at 16/17, but decided that I was going to ride that train till it jumped the tracks and then check back into AA. At age 27, when my son was born, the light bulb came on. I still took me 2 more years to "get it". How I wish that I could have those 14 years back.
Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. And thanks Toni and Larry for the camel prayer/background. Reading it gave me chills, and Toni how nice that you remembered that coin. I was happy when I found the avatar since I really do believe in the "one day at a time" nature of this beast.
And Dean, I have to say that I truly believe the reason I stayed sober so young was the horrible experience of watching my mother die from alcoholism. I used to say I wish I could have changed that, but I was just thinking on my anniversary how her alcoholism killing her saved my life. I am convinced I would have gone to AA, but not stayed if I hadn't had that experience. I remember that whenever I am facing something that I see as "bad" - there are two sides to every experience!
I think I'll drink to that,it will be water with lemon though :)