One of the things, which changed my life for the best is gratitude. I know I was never really grateful while I was out there drinking. Couldn’t come up with pleasant and happy things. Instead I was filled with anger and resentments, depression, and despair.
Then I get in here and, despite my personal self, I was helped from the beginning to start to change. I had no idea what it was that was going on. That all changed, when that old timer yelled out to me to “SHUT UP! You know how to drink, but you don’t know how to get sober. So take the cotton out of your ears and stick it in your mouth and begin to listen.” Talk about a wake up call.
My first sponsor woke me up, when he went back out and drank again. He died. And that began to stop me from thinking. Really. What a shock! And that’s when my second sponsor took over. An old timer, who knew how this program worked and started to show me what I needed. The BB. Not to be read, but studied, as he pointed out. And then the Second Step and the spiritual way of life and a Higher Power in my life. I did and it really started to change me.
I can almost guess I woke up one day and I was not only happy, but at peace. The start of the beginning. And things went on gradually over time. Not over night, but slowly a day at a time. The spiritual awakening, the restoration to sanity, the peace with others, the love of others, which I began to learn in here, as friends formed.
I have been given a “new way” of life. I’ve actually changed. A new happiness and a new peace. What great gifts I have found in here. And I owe all of it to my Higher Power and this program. The old timers, and a whole lot of friends and acquaintances I have met along the way, who have helped me to change and grow. I need to give my thanks to all.