One of the gifts in here, which I had no idea of for a long time, was the changes I had to go through. The reason this came to mind today was my memory of a tough old timer, who helped me to begin to change from the negative to the positive. For quite a while I was very negative about this man, because I thought he was irritating, and I would try to block his continual changes from coming in.
What bothered me about him was his way of talking. He was a tough old alcoholic, a WW2 veteran, who spoke with an old country way of talking. I know others were irritated by the same thing. And yet one day he was talking at a meeting about the same thing, and all of a sudden it hit me. It opened the door to something I and many others desperately needed. I really have never forgotten it. And I became grateful for what he offered all of us. It demonstrated for me and others how ignorant we were about the simplest things.
It was about our attitudes. About the positive and the negative. It turned out to be so simple that it was amazing how complicated we were. I know I was, and others talked about it after the meeting was over. He was able to simply point out how negative attitudes complicated everything and blinded us where we were. As he also pointed out how these negative attitudes could blind us and make us step back out and take alcohol again, because of the deep darkness we were caught in.
Then he showed us how, no matter what the problems might be, that we could go from the negative to the positive and stay there, no matter what. He demonstrated how we could step away from darkness into light. From despair to peace and happiness. And we could do all of this a day at a time. Always, if we chose to. But we had to be aware and know what we were doing.
And it has worked. Over time and practice, being aware of what we are doing. Not going back and getting into the blackness inside of us, but the light. When I think about my gratitude I owe this man, I know I am not alone. We all seemed to be able to accept his way of thinking and living a sober life in here. Makes me think about all the changes I have had to go through, and how I have been helped by so many of these old timers.
Once again it has demonstrated to me how simply and deeply I have been changed by what I have been given. How definitely it has helped me to stay sober a day at a time. What this spiritual way of life is all about for me. How my Higher Power has placed these old timers in my path along the way. And it’s still going on. I am so grateful for all I have been given along the way. Makes me aware of how I have to thank the God of my understanding and all these old timers for all I have received. It also makes me aware of how much I need to carry to all those who need it, to help them get sober and stay sober a day at a time.