We read this in my homegroup every meeting...I can never hear it enough.
Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.
We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.
We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals - usually brief - were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.
-- Edited by Stepchild on Monday 9th of July 2012 08:05:38 AM
Had a party for my brother yesterday. A whole fridge full of beer, and my first real temptation. It was kind of shocking and disappointing, because I actually thought to myself it would be okay to crack open and have just one beer.
I don't even like beer - and I sure don't like just one!
It was weird, and I called my lovely sponsor who reminded me that I'm an alcoholic. I teared up in disappointment, but soon realized that very truth. I'm an alcoholic - my disease wants me dead - and then I felt much more in control again.
I cleaned up and dumped out beer cans after the party was over... by then, the moment seemed way in the past. I could look at it as a crazy symptom of my disease, and see all the other people who did not/were not drinking. For a moment - I could only see those who were.
Today I can catch my disease flying around in my head, and squash it like a bug. For so long it was a monster chasing me where ever I went... usually catching me, and I didn't know what to do.
I'm so grateful for this program.
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
Oh man, ... ... ... In my late 20's, my wife and had an in-ground pool installed at our house ... when we had pool parties, there'd be beer left in some of the cans, or if it was a kegger, then glasses of half drank beer would be laying around ... when I cleaned up the next day, I couldn't force myself to just toss the leftovers, I had to drink what was left ... JUST couldn't pour them down the drain ... Did that kinda' sh_t for over thirty years ...
I'm Proud of your 'resolve' Tasha ... You Go Girl ... Congrats ... Right Choice!!!
God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Reminds me of one of my favorite spiritual readings 'No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man, but God (your Higher Power)is faithful and will not allow YOU to be tempted beyond what YOU(different for each person) are able ,but with the temptation will also make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it! Guided by that Power greater than us and application of the tools,the spiritual principles we gain by working our own process of our program(sponsors,meetings,other folks in recovery,honesty,awareness , the WE part of our program etc)recovery,recovered a day at a time,keeps us moving forward.Have a blessed and productive day!
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Yeah, I'm grateful for this program as well, Tasha. It's been a life saver for me many times over. Imagine what could of happened if you drowned those sorrows in a can of beer. I guess it would feel disappointing, but again it didn't happen, so be proud of that. We should always stay the course -Tasha, even though it may be lined with beer at times. You did, so be grateful. Have an even better tomorrow, okay dear.
The first time I tried that, I got drunk and nearly lose my life. After a spree of 4 months, I just about returned. We stayed away from parties for 2 years, because I was weak. My wife used to tell family, that we cannot attend because Gonee is an alcoholic, and he might be tempted to drink. The AA book says that "alcohol is cunning, baffling, powerful." If my spiritual condition is weak, I simply refuse the invite. Many that were upset with me for not attending at the time, are either dead or have become alcoholics themselves.
I also love that passage More About Alcoholism from Chapter 3.
For me it was one of those things...I read it...And was like..Wait a minute...pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization?.....I think I need to read that again.
-- Edited by Stepchild on Wednesday 11th of July 2012 06:57:28 AM
Oh Deb, ... ... you must be a young'un ... ... i hear they have text-ting now-a-days ... from what I've heard, it's a lot like the old telephone party lines we used to have ... you know?, where everybody knew everybody else's business ... cause you couldn't talk to anyone without someone else picking up their phone and listening in ... (like MayBerry RFD. w/ Andy Griffith)
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Wednesday 11th of July 2012 11:20:44 AM
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
For me it was one of those things...I read it...And was like..Wait a minute...pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization?.....I think I need to read that again.
I keep wanting to click the "Like" button every time I read a post I totally relate to (as if I was on FaceBook).
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~Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will~
