This day I was thinking about relationships and responsibility. The relationship I have with my higher power and those around me. And my responsibility to do the best I can, despite my short comings. If I continue to do what I need to do in both instances, I know that not only can I stay sober, but I can help others to do the same.
Everyday I see people, just like me, doing the same thing. I see them at meetings and I talk with them. The first responsibility is not to take that first drink. And, to me, that begins with what I learned in here. To put these 12 Steps into action and as a result I’ve had that spiritual awakening. The restoration to sanity, at least as far as alcohol is concerned. Being placed in a position of neutrality. Not having to think about a drink, but to think about my defects and how to neutralize them. By trusting in my higher power, that he can do for me what I can’t do for myself.
We were talking to a new person today. Their very first entrance into this program. At least they were present today. As we talked about the First Step, my mind went back to my first meeting in AA and what it was like for me. I can still see that room in my mind. I have an impression of the people talking about their drinking and I identified instantly. I’m not sure about their bottoms, but I do know they talked about what it’s like now and the fact that they were sober and happy in this program. That gave me hope. And I can remember that old timer, who read from the Twenty-four Hour a Day book; the line that told me that my decision to stop drinking was the most important decision I ever made and could I ever afford to forget it even for a minute. And that stuck with me for a long long time.
And there we were, trying to establish a relationship with this young person, who had just come here. Taking the responsibility to pass along freely, what was so freely given to us. Sobriety and the solution. The Fifth Tradition, the primary purpose of the group.
Anyway, as I was thinking about sobriety tonight, I thought about relationships and responsibility. Part of the spiritual life I learned in here. It’s what helps me stay sober, if I will but do it. Hopefully that’s what I try to do a day at a time. It’s my way of practicing gratitude.