Growing along spiritual lines has been a “tough” job for me. I say tough and then think I don’t know how much I really put into it. All I know is that I was probably what I have read of Bill W. He had his bumps in the road for sure.
Anyway, I have already been thinking about our stumbling over our defects, because we’re human. I also have been thinking about the “I” over “E”. Intellect over our emotions. Especially our negative emotions. Both of these are what generally put us in danger of going back to alcohol again. Never want to go there.
I know that one of the things I need to do is to think as positively as I can. I need to recognize that I’m not all that important. What I need to do may be that important, but not me. I need to learn to practice a step into humility. Learning to laugh at myself is one of these. I know that is pretty much what I practice on a daily basis.
I also need to never forget to put the Serenity Prayer into my life daily. I have to remember how really powerless I am. I need to learn what really needs to be changed in my life and that is me. And I know I need to pray and ask my Higher Power for the help I need to do that.
Again, all of this is a reminder to me of why I am here. I’m here to stay sober a day at a time. And I know that I need to not only practice these Steps, I need to look at the last three and what it is they can do for me. The Tenth is what I need to focus on honesty. The Eleventh is what hopefully connects me to what I so desperately need. Help. And the Twelfth is where I need to go to practice love. After all the Tenth brings hope. The Eleventh, faith. The three virtues I need in my day. Makes me grateful.