It always amazes me when someone comes up and begins to talk to me about their problems. I do realize that’s why I am here, but I’m still surprised. This happens from time to time over time. And I always know that what I’m to do to help them is what my sponsor and those old timers did to help me.
I know that I always need to relate what it was like for me. To me that’s always like it what my old sponsor and other sober friends did for me. And, like it was from them, part of what I hope I can do for those who want help is to ease them up and begin to pull them away from negative emotions.
And all this does bring back a lot of what was wrong with me, when I came into this program, when I got sober. I was definitely revealed the truth. I was immature, insecure, and over sensitive. I came to realize that when I started drinking I really stopped maturing. I began to be overcome with negative thinking and being governed by my negative emotions. Resentments, anger, self pity, feeling sorry for myself, wanting to get even with others, and on and on, was what was dominating me.
When I came in I had stopped drinking, but the negative thinking I had was still there. And I ran right into this, when my first sponsor and another alcoholic friend, with at least ten years each, went back out and drank over their resentments and died. I had to get a new sponsor, an old timer, and I was awakened. And I always relate this to others, what my sponsor told me. “You think you know that you know. But you don’t know.” I suddenly realized that this was the truth. It was why I was so filled with negative thinking.
Anyway, when the last person who was telling me what was wrong, I was reminded of all of this. And I do tell all these, who ask for help, what it was like for me and how I was helped to change and get rid of all these problems. All this reminds me of when my new sponsor helped me, when he opened the Second Step for me. The door to a spiritual way of life. Like I always have to admit, I am grateful to my sponsor and my Higher Power for all the blessings I have received.