If ever I want to experience reality, I find it in a meeting, where a “new” alcoholic is trying to achieve sobriety. The last couple of days and today, there were meetings with such new “members”.
The reason I’m thinking about this is because these always awaken my own story and that of others in here. How I walked into these rooms, definitely never wanting to drink again, but thinking I knew what I needed to do to stay sober. I think the term one of those old timers used on me was “dishonesty”. Or, as my old sponsor told me, that I didn’t know that I didn’t know. I only thought I did. I sure picked up on that from those who showed up.
What I talked about with a man, who was helping one of these, who was lying to himself, that each and everyone of us needs a sponsor. And the sponsor, as I was told, was not there to be a friend, but someone who is going to help them, by being willing to give directions. My experience was being told to do what I needed to do. No excuses or going around anything. I remember my old sponsor giving me a BB and telling me not to read it, but to study the book. And he often tested me on this. It was him, who got me to read the fourth chapter, which was about the Second Step, which changed my life.
Anyway these meetings and these people got me to once again stop and think about why I am here. I’m here to stay sober a day at a time. I need to do, on a daily basis, what I was told to do way back. To practice these principles in all of my affairs. I can do this, because I am hopefully committed to my Higher Power, who has given me what I so desperately needed, sobriety. And I am grateful for all I have received as a result of following directions. Not just to my Higher Power and this program, but my old sponsor, and all those, who have helped me through my time in here. And I was grateful to these new people for reminding me of what I need to think about on a daily basis.