This is one of the most important days in my life. Jan. 6. That was my first day in this program. A friend of mine, who had given me the message of AA, which helped me stop drinking and turn my alcoholic disease over to the God of my understanding. And that worked. I was freed and able not to drink anymore.
That first meeting was so great. I heard some great stories from those people there, and then it was an old timer, who took the 24 Hours a Day book and read the Jan. 6 page first paragraph to me. I have never forgotten that and continue to read it on and off all the time. I know he had read that at meetings to others and they do the same thing.
That paragraph he read tells me that the most important thing I can ever do is keep sober. My whole life depends on that. And then it ends stating, Can I ever afford to forget this even for one minute? And though my mind still wanders from time to time, I know I believe this and still try to do this. That’s why I go back and read this so often over time.
And it was this same old timer, who made my first chip for me. I still carry that around in my pocket. I never want to forget him or what it is I’m doing a day at a time. It reminds me of what it is I’m supposed to be doing. I’m so grateful for him and so many others, who helped me to change and stay sober.
Of course it was this which helped me stay in this program through all this time in here. I have had so much help from all those people like him, who knew what it was I needed to do to stay sober. And of course that included not only stopping drinking alcohol, but to also grow along spiritual lines and to depend on my Higher Power, who took the alcohol away from me and helped me to help others like myself.
I have to be totally grateful and to stop and think about all of this today…Jan. 6.