There was an old man, who came into the program as an older man. I guess he was in his 60s. To look at Wyatt, sometimes it was hard to figure out just how old he was. He stayed sober the rest of his life and I know he had over 15 years, when he died. He was a great old man and he contributed a lot to my sobriety. I still think of him. One of the things that was memorable was his statement: “AA does not add years to my life, but it adds life to my years.” He had a great attitude and lived the way he spoke.
I find in my life that his statement has had a long term effect on me and others I know, who knew him. I believe it to be true, especially in my case. Experience is important. It’s what we share with others, along with hope and the strength to be gained by others based on those two.
I cannot account for others, but I know what my life has been in this program. For instance, I came in at the young age of 42. Recently I celebrated my 77th birthday. As far as longevity goes, I have always believed that it was due to this program. I should have been dead at 42, based on my drinking. I have always believed that if I hadn’t come in, when I did, I would have bought the farm. Nevertheless, I’m here and here I am.
Not drinking has played a huge role in coming this far. But it was the introduction of the AA philosophy into my life that has made all the difference. The introduction to the solution; a Higher Power, who could restore me to sanity has been so all important. Almost as important has been what the 12 steps have achieved in this life and that is a complete change in attitude. Dr. Jung expressed it so well in his conversation with Rowland H., as it’s recorded in the BB in There Is A Solution. He described the spiritual awakening. His words are worth reading again and again. It’s a great measure for inventory of our lives to date.
Attitudes are everything, as a friend of mine reminded me yesterday. They’re more important than facts. In fact, they change the facts. When they tell us in here, that if we are having a bad day, stop and start your day over, we are talking about changing our attitude. A bad attitude can be converted into an attitude of gratitude, as soon as we are ready, willing, and able. We have been given so many tools to achieve this, including those around us, who can help us to turn our attitudes around.
We, also, have the literature. The instruction in the BB tells us that we first have to calm the disturbance. The 12&12 instructs us in the 10th step on what the disturbance is and what we can do about it. No matter what is seemingly taking us down, we have a way to get out of where we are. I know how important the phone can be.
People can help get me out of almost any situation that I impose on myself. Like it says, no matter what the source, the disturbance is always centered in me.
It took me a long, long time to finally get the instructions into my thick skull, but with the persistance of so many others, I think I’ve finally gotten somewhere with it. I can safely say that not just the words, but the experience has proved that this program really works. None of my “bad” days are even remotely related to those I used to have. I’ve finally learned to keep my thoughts in the day. Always this day.
I can remember, when I was about ten years sober, a friend of mine came up to me and said to me, “I’ve been telling people that I knew a guy, who was absolutely crazy in this program, but he didn’t drink. I hope you don’t mind.” I had to laugh. In fact we both did. It was true. It was true then and it’s not true now. It hasn’t been for a long, long time. I’m nothing like the man, who came in. In fact, I don’t know who he is. I know who he was.
AA does not add years to my life, but it does add life to my years. All because I was graced with freedom from alcohol by the God of my understanding. The people who went before me gave me the instructions on how to maintain this gift and how I can try to give it to others. All of this one day at a time. And, if I can remember that atttitudes are everything, it becomes much easier to maintain this way of life. For that I am grateful. I just have to make sure I stay around you all and keep getting the reminder how to do that and then to do it.