Was reminded today by a friend of the slogan First Things First. The word “primary” comes to mind. Our primary purpose to stay sober and help another alcoholic.
I can remember times, when someone forgot the first thing. One man I remember came back to his office, walked in and his fellow workers were celebrating a big sale and handed him a drink. He drank it and continued to get drunk after. The first thing wasn’t even in his mind.
The BB tells us that eternal vigilance is the price of sobriety. It’s my job to go to meetings and be reminded of what it is I need to do to stay sober. Not only that, but there’s always the opportunity to help another alcoholic.
I also thought of others, who also lost the memory of what it is we’re supposed to do. I’ve known others, who missed about a week of meetings and got lulled into not doing what they needed to do. For instance prayer and meditation, or looking at the literature or making calls to others. One told how he too was handed a drink, and though he didn’t drink it, he not only was tempted, but almost couldn’t remember why he shouldn’t. Scary at best for someone like me.
I know that I need to pay attention and to try to practice these principles I have learned in all of my affairs. No matter how imperfectly I may do this, the important thing is to try. I learned all of this from my sponsor and those old timers I once knew. Each day to begin it with thoughts of sobriety. To start with prayer and, if possible, meditation. To surrender my day to my Higher Power. To go to a meeting. To read something from the literature available to me. To end my day with thanks for all I have been given. And, again if possible, to talk to someone in the program.
I just had to write this all down. My sobriety is extremely important to me. It means my life. But more than that. It has made my life, through this program, so wonderful. It’s opened my heart and my mind. It has changed me into a different human being. I emphasize human, because I think I had lost my humanity, when I was out there. It introduced me to a way of life that I never thought it was possible to have. And here it is.
Anyway, I’m grateful my friend always puts First Things First where I can see it. I talk to him frequently and know that he is an example to me of a man, who practices this daily. Nice to have others, who can help someone like me. I not only admire and respect him, but am grateful for his help.