The challenges we face

[angussdundee]

Well, January is well underway and I've entered into another New Year without the need or the want to take a drink of alcohol, can I now relax? Will my higher power take care of the rest of the year/s? Not so, I must continue to grow. There will be challenges ahead. None of us knows what the tomorrow holds. What we do know is that to-day is always full of challenges, and if we meet those challenges to the best of our ability - with willingness, with honesty and openness, we can improve our chances of a better tomorrow.
One day at a time I will have to - Remain clean and sober. Try to retain my honesty. Continue to learn how to grow. Care for myself, both body and soul. Nurture my relationships as they will need constant care and feeding if they are to grow. Hang on to my support network and try to grow in all aspects of recovery.
There is a major challenge for all of us to consider; to help to build a drug free society. This can help our comunities and our recovery all in one go. There are forces working against efforts to rid our society of alcoholism and addiction, from pushers on the street corners to big corporate pullers. Every area of society will need to work together to create an attitude towards substance abuse - business, religious communities, our schools and service organizations can all be enlightened if we work toward making our own llives and the lives of others better and better.
Hey, am I on my soap box to-day?..... ::) God, guide us and protect us as we go from here to do his bidding.
anguss.

[adailyreprieve]

Me, too. I need face to face and heart to heart. It was the level of sharing that attracted me to AA. Actually, it was the only thing I liked when I got here. I was afraid of God. And I hated the "churchy" stuff you folks did, like passing baskets and praying. Yep, it was the sharing. I had never heard anything like it. I kept coming back for the sharing. I'm still coming.

[samf]

Had a friend who told me when he was moving 1500 miles away from where he got sober and was feeling shaky that his sponsor pulled a chip out of his pocket and said, "You know what to do."

The gist of the conversation was that he had learned a lot of things in AA, and had a simple kit of spiritual tools, now.

When my husband and I would talk about one of us maybe passing away, my husband would tell me, "You know what to do."

I couldn't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for my Higher Power, for AA, for the things I have learned.

Sometimes I have gotten complacent, too. That is awfully dangerous to do...maybe it's an aspect of my disease, too.

But when my husband passed away, I have to tell you...knowing certain things and taking certain actions became deadly important again. Self-preservation kicked in, along with the shock and grief.

Thank God for the things I learned to do from you people in AA.

Samf

[Miguelmom]

Hi all,
I appreciate this posting because I can get complacent (five years + of sobriety). I go to meetings in Pa and Jersey. One thing I noticed in Jersey is those "on the beam vs. off the beam" posters. I find all of the indicators on those posters to be really helpful, and to remind me how work, some family life...can make me off the beam pretty quickly.
I was off the beam in church today, too many toddlers and parents not taking them out. Whatever happened to the "crying room" we had growing up? Anyway, I guess if I'd been on the beam I wouldn't have gotten so annoyed!
Take care you guys. I love this discussion group!

[adailyreprieve]

Hey, we are only human. I suffer with two "isms:"? alcoholism and humanism. Even when my alcoholism is in check, the human element keeps getting in my way. I have to be careful not to whip up on myself. I did that for way too long. I used to spit at myself in the mirror. Now I can smile and do a little jig, as long as nobody is watching. And my Heavenly Father loves me just the way I am.

[angussdundee]

"You have to give it away to keep it" as they say in AA. and that's the truth. Surely it's by helping others with drug and alcohol related problems that we are constantly reminded of who we are, where we've come from and what we could be again. My experience shows me that by reaching out to others proves that the givers benefit even more than the receivers.
Be wary though, don't take on too much by overextending yourself. don't take on tasks that are impossible to deal with or that might stress you out or be so tedious that they take up all your time (I was that soldier).
I have heard old timers say that, "it's not as easy as it once was" to do twelve step work, now that many drunks/addicts go through formal detox programmes, so finding ways to help them may take more time. You can be sure of this though, your offer of a genuine, no strings attached, one to one chat with a newcomer will usually be snapped up pretty quick and you'll always feel better about yourself and the progress you have made when you reach out and try to help somebody.

God help us all,
anguss.