OK, so I watch wome of the loympics sometimes, some of the sports I really don't care who wins who loses, it's just a joy to see people doing their best.
Sure I've got hooked on the medal table (If Yorkshire was a Country, not a County, then we'd be around 11th in the table, above South Africa!) but that's not important. I'm trying to resist the temptation of jingoism (and not being that succesful)
But it got me to thinking. I dees these athletes, these sports men and women, giving their all, some succesful and gaining medals, some succesful just by being there. And I remember as a kid I so desperately wanted to get on that podium as a runner (I used to be a good runner, until I was 14 and found fags and booze).
After I started drinking, I stopped training but still dreamt of standing on that podium, just booze fueleed dreams because I wanted it without working for it. Wanted all the rewards without the work.
Which brings me to AA and recovery. Coming to meetings without working the programme makes for as much success as joining a gym and stayiing in the coffee bar. So I know for me if I want the rewards - then I got to put the work in.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
The talents and perseverance, sacrifices, determination, and just plain astounding feats of these human beings just humbles me while filling me with pride at the same time. Watching the games I have to acknowledge that so much of my time, talent, and physical health was lost due to this disease. But I don't "regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it" --at least not to a degree that hinders my serenity and sobriety. The Olympics just give me more motivation to stick to my modest workout, my reasonable food plan, and to be sure to maintain my attitude of gratitude. The rewards may not be gold medals, but those chips and medallions are worth just as much...and more...given they stand for living life over living death.
After I started drinking, I stopped training but still dreamt of standing on that podium, just booze fueleed dreams because I wanted it without working for it. Wanted all the rewards without the work.
Which brings me to AA and recovery. Coming to meetings without working the programme makes for as much success as joining a gym and stayiing in the coffee bar. So I know for me if I want the rewards - then I got to put the work in.
I totally agree Bill. There's no such thing a just reward without any effort. And the same goes for A.A. If any alcoholic puts that much energy into getting sober as athletes do competing, then our lives would probably be more consistent. But that's just my observation. The only reward that matters to me is another day clean and sober, that and an honest paycheck. The rest from there is just gravy.
