It must be 15 years or so ago at the meeting after the meeting.. True story.. One of the group members, we called him angry Harvey stated that he had quality sobriety.. Harvey had about 2 years sobriety before his slip now he was back 4 months.. Jersey John had about 15 years.. he had a plate in his head from a war injury and saw things rather simply. Elton was also there who was an attorney, myself and Susan.
Harvey stated that it wasnt the length of sobriety that counted but who got up in the morning, that day, the earliest had the most sobriety....since it was one day at a time that was only to be considered important.
John in all seriousness listened then said ..Harvey what if you go back to bed.. I get up sometimes at 2 in the morning and go back to bed does that count.. He said it seriously without guile. Elton, the attorney, was rolling on the floor laughing.. saying, never in all my years in court have I heard an argument so quickly disarmed and destroyed.In the spirit of things I piped in.. what about time zones Harvey have you factored that in.. or if you simply get up at 1AM to take a pee.. does that count too...Harvey you seem to have us all confused with your logicPlease be more specific.
When I came into AA it was the after meeting of my first meeting.. I was 30 yrs .old I found out that the organization was about not drinking and could not imagine a life without never picking up a drink again.. with a life I saw in front of me
The reason why we say its a day at a time.. or just dont pick up today ..Is that very fact of projecting into the future.. What is not said is this, but very much implied .As the days of sobriety build.. one's own THINKING about not drinking changes. Today after 39 years, I couldnt imagine what a waste of time it would be, at the least, to go back drinking.
Talk is cheap.. and there is a lot of that going around but actions speak louder than words.. youve all heard that before.
At first we "can't drink", then we don't "need" to drink, and If we can stay clean and work the 12 steps of AA and find the spiritual solution to a spiritual disease. We will not won't or desire a drink. It's like we are grateful we get to not drink.
Projection at first is "don't drink today". Today, I only choose to project that I'm getting further away from the last and not closer to the next drink, one day at a time.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Thank you Tomas.......Ahhhh... that good ole "Quality vs. Quantity" arguement! When I was new, I talked of "quality" being the most important! LOL! Thats what A.A.s with no quantity boast about! ;) Such nonsense! Gimmee Q U A N T I T Y please! Does the "quality" arguement mean, that if the "quality" of my sobriety, does not meet my demands...I am gonna quit? Drink? Drug? After 28 years of continuous, drug- free sobriety, I have experienced Love, Laughter, Peace, Joy, Bliss....AND.....Death, Disease, Loss, Grief and Horror...ALL SOBER!!! Gimmee Quantity! I want to die of something ELSE, besides alcoholism and drugs (such a miraculous luxury for any alcoholic)....I pray I never pick up the first drink/drug for all of the rest of my days! "Quality"? HA! Blessings upon you :)!
I think I differ in opinion there Lady Eli ... ... ... 'Quantity' would be just another 'prison sentence' for me if I were depressed and had no spiritual guidance in my life ... you see? ... it's the 'Quality' that makes all this work worthwhile to me ... it brings me a joy & happiness I might otherwise never come to know ... 'Quantity' without 'Quality' is simply a 'dry drunk' ... to me that's like being 'half-way' sober ...
Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Quality and Quantity do go hand and hand...It's not one or the other..without quality sobriety for the sake of argument you invariably do not have quantity....It's neither an issue or an argument less you make it as such..Personally I don't know about the quality of my sobriety..or who is even qualified to make that judgment but I'm damn sure about the quantity of my sobriety..39 years and 5 days.
Another one father Martinwould use for dramatic effect.....What ever it means? lol..........".It may look like butter and spread like butter but it ain't butter"
Good speakers use statements like the quality statement above ONLY for dramatic oratory effect...and then They reach the corrus as fact...that's all Get it?
