Yesterday, I was talking to a friend about practicing these principles in all our affairs. As we were talking I was suddenly reminded of something which has helped me through the years. It was something which came quite by accident to me.
About fifteen years ago or so, I was running a program in Laurel, Md. and I had a business meeting that morning. When I looked at the clock that morning I knew I was going to be late, so I stepped on the gas and finally was nailed for speeding as I entered the town of Laurel.
I pulled over to the curb and was startled to see the policeman who nailed me was a tall, pretty blonde. And she was all business.
She asked for my license and registration and then slowly walked back to her squad car. Meanwhile I was looking at my watch and thinking how late I was going to be and wanted her to hurry the process up. But she didn’t. Between the specter of the ticket and the meeting I was late for, I was starting to get fidgety. So I lit a cigarette and smoked it until I saw her returning from her vehicle. So I threw the cigarette out the window before she got to me.
“Sir,” she said, “do you realize you just threw a harmful substance on the pavement?”
“Oh,” I replied as I looked out the window at the pavement. “Did I hurt it?”
She glared at me and ordered me out of the car to pick the butt up. My first reaction was to say absolutely not. But in a moment of grace this thought came to me: I can do that. And I did without another word.
I can do that. That thought not only spared me further trouble, but has stood me in good stead as far as the principles in this program go. That phrase has carried me through a lot of distasteful situations over the years. How? Because no matter how troublesome the requests I’ve been asked to fulfill, I can do that. I may feel being put upon by someone else and think what’s being asked is too much or that I’m being persecuted, but the words “I can do that” changes the whole scene and my attitude in a millisecond.
Things which would have once angered me and created a resentment are turned around by thinking those words. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to that policewoman in Laurel. I don’t know this specifically, but she quite possibly may have helped in promoting my sobriety on many an occassion. It was from her I learned that I can do that. That moment, when I was tempted to act in defiance was turned into an act of humility of which I never thought I was capable.
Yes, I can do that. It’s what I’ve been thinking about this morning. I can do that, because I want to stay sober.
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