There was a new woman at the meeting today. The people who spoke to her, told their stories and how they got sober and what it was like today. For the most part it was simple. My only thought, at first, was could she hear what they were saying?
Here she was at her first meeting, and there I was at a meeting so many years later. I hoped she would get the same chance at sobriety that I had and would stay sober. It would be wonderful if she could. Plus the fact that she, like myself, would have a second chance at life and wouldn’t have to die an alcoholic death.
Then I thought of a man, who came up to me yesterday and said he had a complaint. He said he didn’t think there was enough talk at meetings about staying sober and how to do that. He said he often spent his meetings thinking about this.
I had to laugh. Here was a guy, who like that woman, was trying to stay sober and how to do that. She was new and probably wasn’t thinking the same way. She was trying to grab on and he was thinking to himself how to hang on. But, unlike her, he had the answer and didn’t know it. I told him that. If he was sitting in meetings, thinking about staying sober, because he thought others weren’t, he was getting what he needed. He was winning the argument with himself, without realizing it.
But he helped me and I told him so. He reminded me of why I was there and I was grateful.
Anyway, I was thinking about these two people today. It made me feel hopeful. A hope I wish that woman would find today. A way out of the awful hell of having to drink against her will. She had some great examples of what can happen for her, if she is desperate enough to grab on. All I know is that it happened for me. And if it can happen for someone like me, it can happen for anyone, who wants it.
I know that none of us can do for someone, what only they can do for themselves. But, after listening today, that we all can help her.
Just think, we have all found what Rowland H. and Bill W. did so many years ago. A way out of our alcoholic drinking. A way this woman and myself have to stay sober a day at a time and be happy and content while doing it.
Anyway, this is what I was thinking today.