Values

I was reminded today about my values. There was a time, when my values were probably the same or close to the values the world holds so dear. Finances, success, politics, and a whole lot more.

I can’t tell myself how much I valued alcohol. A lot. Even after I had been sober a while, I still held alcohol in value a lot higher than I should have. I can remember several individuals, who must not have known I was leading a sober life now, who gave me fifths of whiskey at Christmas. Of course I never thought of taking a drink from them, but just couldn’t throw them out. I had to find someone who could use a bottle. Nuts, huh?

However, thanks to this program my values have changed. What a reversal. Today I value my sobriety and so much more. For instance one of my daughters sent me an email today to tell me how much she is grateful and values her sense of humor, which she said she owes to me. How much I valued her words and the love, which they conveyed to me. Imagine. I was so struck by what she said.

Not to long ago I had a conversation with my son about meditation and spirituality. Another surprise. I was in awe that he would choose to talk to me about such matters. And grateful that he would.

No, my values are more of something called eternal values. I was thinking of those words, just before I sat down to write this. If someone had told me I would be thinking and writing this back many years ago I would have said they were crazy. Just goes to tell me how much I know. But, who could have predicted that I would have stopped drinking and would get sober through AA? But that’s just what happened and I can’t express how grateful this makes me.

Faith, love, forgiveness, friendships, sharing, fellowship, service, and so many more of the principles are what I value the most these days. All the result of the 12 Steps and the help I have received from so many in this program. How I value those old timers and my sponsor, who were so generous of their time with me.

Today I can look around the room in a meeting and think how much I value the people in these groups, who have contributed so much to my sobriety. And I would be remiss, if I didn’t acknowledge my long time friends, whose love and affection have helped me in the process of change. My eternal gratitude and love is all I can offer in return.

Anyway, I just had to stop today and think about what it is I value the most in my sober life.