At the meeting today and shortly after we talked about meetings. Their importance in our lives. That old statement, Meeting makers make it, played a big part. I can never forget that.
We had different visions from a few today, but for the most part there was a lot of gratitude. I know for myself how much this has given me over time. I often go back and think of how blessed I was by what I call “those old timers”. My old sponsor was one of those, as was his wife, who when she became his widow. They were able to help people like me to change my mind and my attitude, which I had dragged through these doors.
For instance I came in convinced that all I had to do was never drink again. That conviction fixed the thought I would stay sober the rest of my life. My sponsor and those old timers got me to change my mind. I was told to bring my mind down to a day at a time. Thank my Higher Power for these people. It was that thought, which helped me to focus on my staying sober. Left to that thought “I would never drink again” probably could have gotten my mind into my forgetting why I was here. Keeping it into this day changed all of that.
And that was where they brought alcoholics like myself to begin to go to meetings daily. At least more frequently during the week. I know that I came to go regularly and that has helped. For many years it was a day at a time. I still go most of the week. I know that makes me very conscious of why I am here in the first place. I rarely if ever think about a drink. But meetings have made me conscious that I am an alcoholic and need to practice this program to stay sober. I have to be aware that I need to stay sober a day at a time.
And I also get to hear about this spiritual way of life I need to live in here. My old sponsor got me to open my heart and my mind to this, when he introduced me to the Fourth Chapter in the BB, and the Second Step. That woke me up and got me to understand that not going there could get me drunk again and cost me my life. I realize to day I owe my life to my Higher Power, whom I came to believe in the Second Step. And that opened the door for me to this program. I never want to forget that.
So, each and everyday I stop and think about why I am here and what it is I need to do. That’s why I go to meetings. I get reminded of why I am here and what it is I need to do. I look around and see those who became my friends in here over time. I have been helped by them and hopefully I have done the same for them. We continue to grow along spiritual lines and become grateful. Friendships have grown as has hope, faith, and love. I need to freely give to others in a continued expression of thanks.