My next thought is about that Third Step. A lot of reason for this. First is that we’ve been through the first Two Steps. Now’s the time for beginning major changes in our lives, beginning with who and what I am, and Who and What my Higher Power is.
I’ve surrendered my alcoholism, my drinking alcohol, to my Higher Power, and I’ve been freed from drinking alcohol. And then I have had to do the next right thing, which can make everything better in my life. And that is to first turn myself over to living a spiritual way of life, which will become a part of me. And then, of course, to choose a Higher Power, to whom I will turn my life over to. And then to begin to stay sober a day at a time. To be grateful and to begin to live a totally different way of life than ever before.
Then I’m now at the Third Step, where I’m going to do what one old timer told a fairly new person. The young person asked their sponsor what God’s will was for them. Very quietly the sponsor simply said, “the other nine Steps”. I can remember that and it made total sense to me. I was going to have to do something, which would begin to clean my life up and begin to change who I am and how I will begin to live a totally new way. I had to learn that I’m not in charge. I am no longer in control. I was going to have to learn to cut my ego down to size, with the help of old timers.
Of course I was going to have to learn what I would have to face along the way. And that would be that from time to time I was going to tumble, and stumble, because I’m not a saint. I’m just a human alcoholic. Gratefully my old sponsor and those old timers pointed all of this out to me. That I would have to remember to change my attitude from the negative to the positive, by stopping my day, when I tripped up, and start it over again. To stop and pray and if I can, meditate. I was told this would probably last until the end of my life.
There is a lot more in here. One of those is the truth that time takes time. None of this is an overnight event. There is only so much I can do one day at a time. With my God’s help I will change and begin to live a happy and peaceful life. It won’t be perfect, like I learned, but it will be so much better than ever before. Plus, if I continue to do it, I will not drink again. And that makes me very happy and thankful. So, I keep working on myself to continue to try to do what is my Higher Power’s will for me and expressing my gratitude to Him, by practicing this program and carrying the message to new alcoholics, stepping into this program. And to be grateful for all those who have helped me along the way. I am.