And Then There's This...

Alcohol
1
Today's The Daily Reflections
is worth a read.

QUOTE
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among ussometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

One of the most important things A.A. has given me, in addition to freedom from booze, is the ability to take right action. It says the promises will ALWAYS materialize if I WORK for them. Fantasizing about them, debating them, preaching about them and faking them just wont work. Ill remain a miserable, rationalizing dry drunk. By taking action and working the Twelve Steps in all my affairs, Ill have a life beyond my wildest dreams.


Sometimes recovery is difficult to accept and I want to snatch back the power. Inevitably, however, I know that I must keep my recovery foremost in my mind and be willing to do as is suggested in The Program of AA. It works if I work it.

2
It says the promises will ALWAYS materialize if I WORK for them.

Ahhhh you mean I have to WORK for them? Dammit. When I was 3 days sober I wanted a week, when I was on the 1st step I wanted to be on 12. I didn't want to actually have to work to get what I wanted. Heck, I'm an alcoholic. I wanted recovery handed to me on a silver platter. Those promises are in the MIDDLE of the 9th step. They begin to materialize AFTER working the first 8. The best thing about them for me was the part about fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us. I was sooo afraid of people. I just KNEW they were judging me and talking about me. LOL It was all about me, right? I was so shy and had absolutely no self confidence and very little self respect. I thought others were judging me as harshly as I was judging myself. But they weren't. The people in AA were kind and patient with me and knew if I worked the steps I would find the self confidence I was yearning for. In doing service work I got to meet a lot of people in my home group. Even a little thing like making coffee for the group gave me a little bit more self confidence. As I began to change with each step I got better and better. Today I'm not afraid when I walk into a room of strangers. I have done things that have given me a better opinion of myself. I don't hide from the things I've done in my past. I've made my amends to those I've hurt and pretty much paid my debtors. Life is good.