I didn't get recognition for my 60 days. Someone on here gave me a virtual chip, I mentioned I was due for one to my sponsor, and at my home group. No one rose to the occasion. I thought it was no big deal. Who needs a silly piece of metal anyway?
I do. Apparently.
I shrugged it off at first.
I'm still thinking about it a week later... that I haven't been "properly applauded and recognized". Jeez. What the H...?
Why do I need to be patted on the back and hoisted up?
Selfish to the extreme?
This morning, my daughter and I were doing a puzzle together, and when she was just stuck and frustrated, I decided to help my little 3 yr old push the piece that had been staring at me for 5 minutes, in the right direction. After she finished locking it in, she jumped up and said "I DID IT!!!!" and gave me a huge hug. I told her good job, hugged her back, and we moved on to the next piece. Soon it was time for more help, and this time I set the corner in place. This time, Layla yells "good job Mommy!", and still did the jumping and hugging. Her enthusiasm was just as genuine for credit due to herself, or me. She satisfied her desires with no problems at all. She rejoiced, congratulated herself, congratulated me, and did all that was needed to move on to the next piece of the puzzle.
I have so much to learn.
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
Congratulations!!!!! Not so much for sobriety......that is just doing what we are suppose to.....but for your strength and determination to live like your suppose to!!!! Good job for sure!!!
Maybe it's just me, but I for one think it IS a BIG deal with the chips for the first year especially ... To me, I had to become very, very selfish while early in sobriety in order to let everyone know that my SOBRIETY came first ... SO, when you commented "selfish to the extreme?" ... absolutely necessary at this point in your sobriety ... At some point I found the promises coming true for me AND that I had built up enough 'time and wisdom' to be ABLE to start giving back ... We need not feel that we should rush this feeling, it WILL come in due time ...
So, go ahead and pat yourself on the back for now ... you'll be thanking God in the near future ... He (or your 'higher power') made all this possible ...
Love ya and God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
There wasn't much laughter in the first year but something that made me actually gaffaw - and I mean, who gaffaws anymore...was a realization while trying to get my daughter to play a board game for the first time - Chutes and Ladders for those who are familiar. Anywho, I was getting frustrated because she wasn't listening to me - she was just off in her little world having the pieces jump on the cards, fly, bump into each other, etc. Then I saw how much fun she was having while I was all frustrated... if the goal was to have fun...what the hell was I doing trying to teach her? I mean, she's a toddler - she knows how to play! So I did the aforementioned gaffaw and took the first of many lessons in play from my daughter.
Incidentaly Tasha, on my daughters sweet sixteen I wrote her sixteen short stories of my sixteen favorite memories from her early childhood - things she wouldn't remember. She reads it every year on her birthday now though she's well into her twenties. Just a thought for yours if you like it.
I never care much about the chips, havent picked one up since the 3 month mark, it was green and was?? AMAZING! congratulations on 60 days and Im sure youll find a chip if you get to some meetings
Hey Tasha,,,,,,WE work toward replacing all the pain with some pleasure.What could be more pleasureable to US .the reaffirming our honesty ,openmindedness and willingness,to do,daily what we need to keep away from the "first one" Remember WE also "celebrate' to share with others that this really works if you work at it..Congrats again
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Well, i got sober in a area where they didn't give away any chips. I was 16 yrs sober when i moved to GA and had one chip that my sponsor bought me on my first year. At the meetings they would ask if there where any anniversaries and if it was your month you stood up at every meeting and gave your name and how many years, then you sat your a$$ back down, never any applause or clapping for anything. It was all about humility and gratitude to our HP and AA program and we where just doing what we were supposed to.
I see where they can be inspiring and helpful, and new people really look forward to them, but I'm just sharing my experience. I guess the chips really belong to God and the AA program we can just ask for the willingness, most of us couldn't stay sober more than a few days without the prior.
Maybe your chip is just supposed to stay in the box at the meeting, you'll be giving it away to the next person who picks up for 60 days. There will be many chips for you in the years to come, if you stay on the path!
Take Care,
Rob
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
My first couple years in GA I would read, chair, do coffee or anything else but I couldn't bring myself to give out chips. Chips didn't fit into the AA mindset or culture for me.
I give them out at times now, but I don't think I'll ever be a chip fan. I don't campaign against them or anything, our common welfare comes first.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
