Every once in a while members will bring up the subject of “then and now”. To me it’s just another way of carrying the AA message to the new man and woman, coming into the program. Practicing the 5th Tradition.
Meetings like those always reminds me of what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now. Always it takes me back to why I came here in the first place. The havoc alcohol raised in my life. And the changes this program brought into my life; the peace of mind and serenity that comes so often to me, as a result of putting these spiritual principles into action.
I love to listen to other peoples experiences. What they were like, when they were out there drinking. How each individuals bottoms forced them to make a decision to stop drinking and find the help they needed. And then how the program altered their whole way of living so that they were so changed that they became willing to reach out and help someone else, who needed help with their alcoholism.
I often think that I need to refresh myself by going back and reminding myself of this process I underwent. It keeps me focused on the importance of my sobriety. As the current saying goes, “it keeps me green”.
How often I think of that old timer, who would always remind us to never forget our bottoms. She would always say that it was that memory, which could spur us on to remain willing to do what was necessary for each of us to stay sober.
Anyway, I was thinking that now and then I should think about “then and now”. It’s a wake up call to what is so important to me; my sobriety. Can I ever afford to forget it?