We were talking about people, places, and things today. The people we knew, when we were drinking, and the places where we hung out. That old way of living to with which we were so familiar. The question was how could we avoid going there again?
Most of us are familiar with that phase of our sobriety. Doing the same old things, even though we weren’t drinking. Hopefully for most of us that is in the past. I know how it was for me. In the early days of sobriety, I would leave work and feel a physical pull toward the bars in which I routinely drank. I remember how I would have to wrench my way past them and get in my car. All the while telling myself that there was a meeting I could go to that night. When I was in the car, I would find myself covered with a film of sweat from the effort.
My sponsor told me that, if I continued with the old ideas and still living and thinking the same old way, I would probably end up drinking again. I didn’t want that and I tried to follow the directions he was giving me. I stopped going into places where I knew my old “buddies” would be. Instead I began to hang around the people in the program, who were sober. And no one from the old gang ever called me or came over to visit. And all it took was making a decision not to go where the temptation of a drink could overwhelm me.
As I look back on that period of time and how it is today, I can see that the alcoholic mind I had is in neutral. I can go anywhere I want today, whether there is alcohol available or not. And most places there is alcohol. I’m told that it’s all right to do this, particularly if I have a good reason for being there. If I can’t, I know that I still have the mind of a drunk. The BB says that there is no way I can live and be protected from alcohol. It’s an inside job.
Thankfully, not only from associating with people like myself, I have the 12 Steps, which have brought about a complete change of personality. Well, almost a complete change. I’m still in the process of changing. I no longer have the same attitudes, thoughts, motives, and any other of the things, which held me under their sway. I have that new freedom promised me. I’m happy and content with this way of life. I have found peace and serenity in this way of life and I don’t have the slightest desire to give this up. Nothing is worth a drink today. The old life has stopped calling to me.
I was told that if we hang around a barber shop, we will end up getting a haircut. Or, if we lie down with dogs we will get up with fleas. All those old maxims are still true. Everyday I get up I make a decision to continue to surrender to my being powerless over alcohol and become willing to practice these principles in all of my affairs. If not, I know all I have to do is to change my mind and start my day over. It works. It really does.
Anyway, I was thinking about this this afternoon.