Today I got other reminders. One was that I may know something which works for me, but that doesn’t mean it will for others. I have had similar things happen in my life, but the way to deal with them may not be the same. The other was what I run into all the time in my life.
I know that, when I came in and finally began to put that Second Step into action in my life, I began to be an intense spiritual person. And now, a lot of years gone by, I can hardly see myself as being a spiritual person. Not that I don’t pray and try to meditate and try to do my Higher Power’s will. I still want to stay sober no matter what. But I am more aware of my humanity and the fact that I’m not a saint.
I was talking to someone today and they felt and thought the same way I do. We both could agree that one of the prayers we say seems to be the answer. And that’s the Serenity Prayer. Being aware that most of the things in our lives are beyond our being able to change them. We both continue to learn that it is ourselves we have to have the courage to change. And that’s where our Higher Power can help us.
I’ve seen how others have dealt with this in their sobriety. One I know has been able to deal with their life and the lives around them by letting go and living their own life and not interfering with others. Leaving them alone and not trying to change them in any way. The result is that one of these has finally decided that this person is right and that they need to get sober themselves. Amazing.
I have often tried, and to a certain degree succeeded, to keep my mouth shut and let go and let my Higher Power run my life, and it has changed some things in me. Some things outside have also changed, but there are still stumbles from time to time. And, of course, it is what drives me back to that spiritual axiom in the Tenth Step. Not always easy, but do-able.
And once again I have to do whatever I need to do to stay sober a day at a time. Makes me grateful for this program and all those in here, who have helped me to change. I hopefully have not only been able to help myself, but some of those around me from time to time. And this is what I learned from my old sponsor and those old timers plus my Higher Power. Once again makes me grateful for all the gifts I have been given in here.