It was kind of funny today in a way. I was talking to a fairly long time member this noon, and a “new” man showed up and said to the leader of the meeting that he was new.
The reason I brought this up in my mind was that the member I was talking to was sharing his thoughts and was listening to my responses. And as I thought about this, I thought about those I know, who never seek advice, because they believe they know better than anyone else. I can remember back early on in this program how my sponsor and those old timers never put up with that kind of thinking from people like myself. I am so grateful that they were willing to go to any length to help alcoholics like myself.
Anyway, I couldn’t help myself at the meeting, because I said something about not having a sponsor with time and experience in here, and thinking you know it all. I know, like I said, that I once spoke up at a meeting, kind of stating that I knew everything. I was told to “Shut up!” by an old timer. He told me what I needed to do. Like listening and learning what it was I needed to do, if I wanted to stay sober. Not that nice, but pretty much it.
And, of course I did and over time in here, it worked. I’m still sober and like what I’m doing. Staying sober a day at a time.
Then there was the “new” alcoholic. I sat right behind him and could see that he looked like he had been drinking and wasn’t really interested in what was going on. I won’t go into detail of what was going on with him, except that he left fairly early. My thought was about the barroom next door. A friend of mine later told me that he and the woman he was with, stopped and looked into it, before they came into the meeting. My friend told me that he suspected he was going to go in there with her after the meeting. Possible.
What it did for me was to get my attention and that of a number of people, who seemed to have caught onto something similar. It was like a wake up call. Something we all needed to remind ourselves of exactly why we are here. To stay sober.
Anyway, like many in the room today, I laid out for him what it was that got me sober and how it worked. My gratitude also for what I have been given. And that’s pretty much what I’m thinking of at the moment. I am grateful. But I am also sorry that this person didn’t seem at all interested in the program. I think he was in alcohol and the person with him. Just my thought. And a few others, really.
So I thought I needed to stop and think about this. Again I have to be thankful to my Higher Power and the people in this program, who have helped me over time in here. It not only stopped me from drinking alcohol, but helped me to change my life.