A friend of mine and I were talking and he told me what the motto he and his partner in business used to continue to successfully stay in business. “Whatever it takes.” He said, that no matter what decisions they made, one would always say to the other, “Whatever it takes.”
He told me that when he came to AA and was desperate to get sober, he told himself that he would do whatever it took to get and stay sober. He said that he often repeats that to himself even today.
What did it take? It took coming to meetings everyday. It took studying the BB. It took working the steps into his life. It took living a day at a time. It took putting his primary purpose first in his life. It took not taking a drink. It took dedicating his life to seeking and doing the will of God. It took everything he had. It took practicing these principles in all of his affairs.
Was it worth it, doing anything it takes? You bet, because I asked him.
I was thinking about this today, because I identified with everything he said. My sponsor asked me almost the same question one day. “To what lengths are you willing to go to get sober?” I told him that I was willing to go to any lengths. In other words, whatever it took. I did and I’m still sober and happy for doing it. In fact, like my friend, I still have to remain willing to go to any lengths. I’m not cured of my alcoholism and I know that the next drink is still waiting for me. I’ll do anything not to pick it up.
And, just think, I don’t have to do it alone. I have everyone in this program to support me in staying sober. They’re willing to help me as long as I’m willing to help myself. I have the support of my higher power, the God of my understanding, who has brought me this far. How could I be anything but grateful for all of this? I have come to a new happiness and a new freedom. I have found peace and serenity and am willing to go to any lengths to keep it and am willing to try to help others find this way of life.