The one thing which was most obvious today was the subject on gratitude. Over and over again the members in here talked about how their sobriety not only saved their lives, but it also turned them around and now they are living good lives, for which they are grateful.
And, of course, this fits right in with myself. I know the very same thing. My life was turned around, when I was given hope, and stopped going to commit suicide, because I had been given a concept I knew nothing about. I had never really any idea about this program. I didn’t even know anything about alcoholism. All I knew was that I had tried and tried and couldn’t stop drinking and it had driven me into despair.
That’s when I prayed and begged God, as I understood Him, to stop me from drinking and living the life I had been living. I surrendered, as I later learned. The next day I woke up and my desire for alcohol was gone. In all this time I have never ever had a drink since. And, like I heard, my life changed. I’m not that same person, who came through these doors.
Of course I’m far from perfect. Still human, but do strive to live a spiritual way of life. Like the BB tells me, I’m not a saint. But nevertheless I have a far better life than ever before, as a result of putting this program into action. Like I said, far from perfect.
And I have to be grateful for all I have been given. I know, like my sponsor told me, that I’m not responsible for getting sober, nor for entering this program. But, like he also said, I am responsible for staying sober and putting this program into action. And that makes me grateful for, not just my Higher Power, but also my old sponsor. He helped turn me around.
I’m also grateful for his widow, who had almost 56 years of sobriety at 90, when her life ended, but who along the way helped a lot of people I know, including myself. She encouraged us to continue to remember that we are here to stay sober, one day at a time. That we were to focus on being number one in our sobriety, because no one else can stay sober for us.
And, of course, like so many, I am very grateful for all the help I have received from so many sober people in this program. They gave me their examples of how to live this life. I never want to forget what was so freely given to me by them. Part of my gratitude is expressed, when I freely give to others what was so freely given to me.
Anyway, just needed to stop and express my gratitude for everything I have in this way of life. Beginning with sobriety.