One of the most inspiring meetings is one in which we discuss our staying sober. That’s what we did today. The members there told how they were being inspired by what others were saying. I agree.
Most went to any lengths to describe how important their sobriety is to them. I know exactly what they were saying. It’s the same with me. I have this incurable disease that I will have until the end of my life. And when that happens I hope I’m still sober. That it wasn’t booze which killed me, as it almost did years ago.
So one of the most important things I can do on a daily basis is to work this program and avoid that next drink. I’ve been blessed by never having to think about or being tempted to take that next drink. All because, when I wanted to stop drinking I finally prayed and had what was described to me as a spiritual awakening. Kind of like my sponsor told me, that I was not responsible for getting sober and coming to this program, but I was responsible for staying sober and working this program. Makes me grateful every time I think about it.
Hearing peoples stories on what alcohol did to them and what it was that got them to this program is often amazing. Some never even thought of alcohol as a problem when they got here. That has got to be a miracle, when they finally discovered that was their real problem. Causes me to wonder how that can be. But there it is. Depression and mental confusion was how they stumbled into these rooms, looking for some kind of answer.
And there’s always those, who had come here hoping to learn how to become a controlled drinker and then discovered that wasn’t something that was going to happen. It was then that they learned what was wrong with them and how they could learn to let go and let a Higher Power do for them what they couldn’t. Something we’ve all learned in here.
Anyway I do know how important that I know why I’m here and what it is that I’m supposed to be doing on a daily basis to not drink and stay sober. The most important thing I do in my life. Without it I would have been dead a long time ago, as I think most of the people in there thought today.
Most talked about the peace and happiness they have acquired as the result of coming here and getting sober. Just getting rid of alcohol in our lives was the start of all of this. I know that was true for me and still is. Gratitude is always part our stories and today was no different.
Just another day when the thought of staying sober has the center of my attention.