Talking to two “new” members yesterday was another wake up call for me. I was really glad I had the opportunity to do this. To freely give what was freely given to me.
What I talked to them about was my own experiences, getting free of alcohol, and how those old timers and my old sponsor helped me. I was hoping that someway I could help them achieve what I did. To be willing to listen to others, who had time under their belts and were staying sober.
I always have to go back and remember how immature I was back then, and how dishonest I was. I was always telling myself that I knew what to do and didn’t want to listen to others in here. And that’s when my old sponsor and those old timers slammed me and woke me up.
Today, because of all these programs, including hospitals and rehabs, which didn’t exist back then, people don’t confront these new members, like they did, when I came in. Back then they would publicly tell you to “Shut Up!”. I know they did me. A wake up call for this chronic alcoholic. I was publicly told that I knew how to drink, but didn’t know who to stay sober. And somehow it worked and it was a wake up call.
Then I had my sponsor call me out and show me how untruthful I was and had to get honest. He also opened the door to this program by introducing me to this spiritual way of life in the Second Step. And then those old timers, back then, deflated our egos, which was totally necessary, if I wanted to stay here, get sober, and never drink again.
Anyway I don’t know if I actually helped them. But I know it helped me. It was a great reminder that I need to stay sober a day at a time. My focus was right there. I couldn’t help but remember and tell them what my old sponsor told me about the BB. He said I was not to read the BB. I was to study it. All this was what made me grateful to my Higher Power, this program, my sponsor and the old timers.