The BB tells me that love and tolerance is are code. Tolerance was brought up today as one of the subjects, along with staying positive. Kind of related.
Almost everyone, who spoke today, admitted that tolerance, let alone love, was not on their agenda, when we were drinking. But then, putting the 12 Steps into action in our lives changed all of that. I know it changed me. And I found myself becoming more tolerant and eventually my life began to bring love of others into the picture.
Of course, changing from negative thinking into the positive, was necessary, if I was to practice love and tolerance. I had to learn to deal with the unmanageability of my life. Surrender to the God of my understanding’s will for me. Accept the fact that I was powerless over people, places, and things. And then come to understand that I don’t live in this world by myself. That it wasn’t all about me, but about my relationships…if I wanted to stay sober.
And the result of all of this is sometimes far from perfect. But it is better than ever before in my life. The spiritual awakenings I have received from my higher power has enabled me to think of myself less and others more. I have learned to keep my mouth shut and to mind my own business. For the most part. Thank God for the 10th Step. And the 11th and 12th and all that went before those. When I make mistakes, I can recover and not get caught up in having to take that next drink.
This program has taught me that I need to deal with the solution and not the problem. And that’s pretty much what we did at the meeting today. We all have problems, but that’s life. What’s the solution? And that’s pretty much what meetings should be about.
And, of course, the solution is always spiritual and that’s why I come to meetings. To be reminded of what I need to hear to help me manage my life today and stay sober.