I seemed to have been given so many things, since I stopped drinking and became a member of AA. I know, because I was introduced to the Second Step, what it means to keep attempting to live a spiritual way of life, and have opened myself to the Power Greater than myself, who has given me so much in here.
However I have never ever forgotten that I need to always keep in mind that I have stopped drinking alcohol. I always remember my old sponsor and his continually urging me to stay sober a day at a time and to continue to go to AA meetings on a regular basis. And then have the compassion to do what those old timers did for me. They freely gave me this program and that’s what I am to do for others like myself, who want this program.
But it was the ego deflation in depth, which helped me to begin to step back and change. I had to learn to step back and avoid the danger of negative emotions, which have tripped alcoholics like myself into going back out and drinking alcohol again. I was taught to put my intellect over these dark negative things, which can run us down. Anger, resentments, hatred. feeling sorry for ourselves, self pity, and a whole lot more, which I have seen take lives away.
I know I have had a spiritual awakening and restoration to sanity. Also peace and happiness. A continual change in thinking and living. All for the better. And I was supported by those old timers, my old sponsor, a whole lot of people in this program, and my Higher Power of course. I have learned love, faith, and hope by what I have done and what I have been given.
I know that I have had to strive for humility, time after time in here. And it has come into existence in spite of my old ego, with the help of others and the God of my understanding. All of this and more is what makes me so grateful, to give thanks and love, and to reach out and help, whenever I can.