The longer we’re sober the closer we get to that next drink. Is that true? Or is it not?
I have my own thoughts on this. I’ve been sober a long time, I guess. Almost half my life. I’m 81 now. I came in when I was 42. I’ve seen a lot in all of these years. I’ve met an awful lot of old timers. Some of the original members and some, who came in ten years after AA was founded. Almost all of them I have known never ever drank again. That should tell us something about the above statement.
For me, since I first stopped drinking, I have only been tempted to drink once. That was about a year in the program and I wasn’t thinking about a drink, when it happened. It was one of those sudden surprise events. And it went away as quickly as it came. Another testimony to the power of prayer. And then never since, despite all the ups and downs and crises we all face from time to time.
However, as I’ve said many times before, I don’t fool myself that it’s not possible. That would be insane. My alcoholism still lives deep within in me and I’m still powerless over alcohol, whether I think about it or not. That will never change. On any given occasion, if I get careless, complacent, self satisfied, or stop my association with AA by not going to meetings, I know that the old drunk deep within me will probably awake and take over. I know that’s happened, because I have seen it happen sometimes to others.
But there is an answer; a solution. There always is. If I stay eternally vigilant, as the BB tells me, and practice this program to the best of my ability, and stay connected, I probably will remain conscious of my primary purpose. And that is to stay sober a day at a time and try to help another alcoholic achieve sobriety.
Anyway I was reminded of this today, when I was reflecting on a number of old timers I knew in the past and their histories in this program. What great examples they were to me and still are in my mind and my heart.