Funny thing. Someone at the meeting mentioned paying attention to the donut and not the hole. Many years ago, when living in Wash. D.C., I used to have coffee at a donut shop. On the wall was a humorous poem.
As you wander on through life, brother,
Whatever be your goal,
Keep your eye upon the donut
And not upon the hole.
I’m sure the man, who mentioned this was probably talking about the same thing I was thinking about. The program and staying sober. The program is the donut. My goal is to stay sober by practicing what I have learned in here. I must put that first and foremost before all other things.
And the hole? Alcohol and everything within me and outside of me, which could lead me back to a drink.
By keeping my attention on my primary purpose, to stay sober and try to help another alcoholic achieve recovery, I know I can stay sober. And that means to practice these principles in all of my affairs. Spiritual principles, which I have learned from others through time. Sticking with the Steps. All of them a day at a time. And depending on a power greater than myself and sharing with other alcoholics like myself, who are sober.
The sticking point in all of this is me. My thinking, my ego, my selfishness. The things I found out about myself in the housecleaning Steps. Those things, which I struggled with in the Sixth and Seventh Steps. Things like anger, resentment, depression, greed, selfishness, etc. Stuff I know others like myself struggle with from time to time, like self will taking over again and again. Avoiding people, places, and things, which can be a hazard for me. That was the topic today, which led to the donut and the hole.
Anyway, when I heard that mentioned today, my mind went back to that poem. Funny…but maybe not so funny. Staying sober and living a sober life is serious business.