When I got home, I sat down and thought about the principles. I don’t think I can ever remember sitting down and talking to anyone about what these were. I guess I assumed that, as long as I was staying sober, I was probably practicing these principles.
I went to the BB, the 12&12, then the Language of the Heart and nothing. Then I thought I’d sit and try to dig these out of my experience in living this program. After all, I must have been doing something right or I wouldn’t be here.
My first thought was the 1st Step. And what came up from that were the words “surrender”, “acceptance”, and “perseverance”. Next the 2nd Step. The word “hope” popped up in my mind. That’s what I found in that Step. Then the 3rd. Again “surrender”, “acceptance”, and “faith”.
The 4th brought the word “honesty” and again “acceptance”.
The 5th brought the word “surrender”, but with it “humility”.
Steps 6 and 7 again the words “surrender”, “honesty”, “acceptance”, and “humility”. Then 8 and 9 had “honesty”, “humility”, “courage”, and “understanding”. Number 10 had most of these words in combination.
The word “rest” came in the 11th, along with “humility”. And finally the word “love” came in the 12th, along with the words “understanding” and “compassion”, and even “empathy”.
However behind all these “principles”, which elevates them to another level, is the word “spiritual” or “spirituality”. Then in combination with all the other words are “kindness”, “truth”, “generosity”, and “caring”.
Along with these is “open mindedness” and “willingness”. Throw in “patience”. And that probably still doesn’t cover what these principles probably are. But it will have to do for now.
Someplace in all of these comes the idea or thought of diminishing pride and ego. Getting me out of the way. Oh, and did I mention “gratitude”? No? Well that’s part of the spiritual principles of this program.
Anyway, I will stop before I end up with Webster’s Dictionary. The question is, will I remember any of this, when he gets back in touch? Probably not, knowing me. But I think everyone, who is working this program in their lives already knows most of this or maybe more. I’m just grateful that I can sit down and think about what came up.
Finally there’s the word “practice”. To practice these principles in all of our affairs. Hmm. I’m glad he didn’t ask me how I was doing with all of these. That’s a lot to do in any given day. The blessing is that I’m still sober in spite of myself and grateful to my higher power and all the people, who in one way or another got these principles into my life.