This AM: Terribly delayed getting into work, late for a meeting, Blackberry going crazy, conflicting demands for time, this needs to be done yesterday, needing to say to demanding people that this cannot be done even today, etc.
This PM: Work Christmas lunch, in a pub. LOTS of booze around.
Net alcohol consumed by me: 0.
As a result, able to discuss things rationally (kind of) with my boss, pick up my son at his friends place and bring him back in the car. Son happy, son's friends parents happy, wife happy. Boss not totally pissed off with me, if not happy.
Play that scenario with me before I came into AA: R-rated horror movie.
I know that I post these from time to time and apologise if they get boring.
But I just cannot get enough of my gratitude to AA, to you guys, for allowing me to develop a relationship with a Higher Power that has allowed this to happen.
I was reflecting on the way back tonite: I did not need to fight any temptation, it was that neutrality that the Big Book talks about.
Yet another example that this this program works if you work it.
Steve, Nice! Doesn't get boring to me. I need to hear stuff like this on a consistent basis. I have a very forgetful mind. Thanks for the reminder of how good life can become if we work the program.
Keep em coming Steve, Navigating Complex Emotional Situations with a modicum of style and grace is ultimately the goal of this gig once that whole "physical sobriety" thing is dealt with, emotional sobriety is our goal, thanks for showing us yours
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it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
Thanks Steve, boring is good, drama, terror, and impending doom not so good. Your story sounds like that passage in the big book, about rejoining the human race. I remember staggering into my house early in the morning when others were driving to work thinking about how strange my life was. My school buddies were involved in their careers, married, and raising families, buying homes and I was still trying to find the next party. The shame was often unbearable, and I remember making denial statements like "I'd rather die now then work my *** off 9-5 saving my pennies for retirement while raising kids and completing "honey do lists". Now I'm such a home body it's kind of odd. Don't get me wrong, I play hard, I'm in Colorado skiing right now, but all those things that I thought that I didn't want were exactly what I needed. I needed a family that I never had when I grew up. Then when I got married, I had an instant family. My wonderful wife has three brothers with with kids and big family get togethers several times a year. It was hard to get used to, I felt uncomfortable for awhile but now I really enjoy them and my 3 brother-in-laws. It's all good.
-- Edited by StPeteDean on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 06:55:44 PM
Steve, the good stuff this program gives to us never gets old or boring. It helps keep me on the path of sobriety.
Thanks for the share. Peace.
True Dat
My "God" and my "Program" don't need people to drink and suffer to work, people relapsing and drinking and suffering dont keep me sober, in the world of "Slap and Tickle" or "The Carrot and the stick" I should say, what keeps me coming back is the program working for people that work it, I like hearing "The Message" and "The Solution" not only here, but in meetings, people drinking and suffering because they choose not to work the Program doesn't keep me sober, people working the Program and walking side by side with me as I work the program keeps me sober
Here, and in meetings, there is "The Problem" and there is "The Solution", and I always am up to hear some solution, because either one is being spread, or the other
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it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
Thanks Steve. Wonderful personal share. That is what I like to hear. I never get tired of it. It builds faith in me that the 12 step program works in people. Enjoy yourself.
Thanks all for this. Had a really poignant reminder of why we do this progam, just after I spoke to my sponsor to express my gratitude to him for helping access a Higher Power that could make it possible.
He told me that a person in our area, who'd been in an out of the rooms for a loooong time in the area where we live died from our disease earlier this week. Daily reprieve, daily reprieve.
