Seven years for me come Spring.
I had reached a state were I felt things were out of my control and I had no one to talk to. A chance(?) meeting with an old acquaintance I had not seen for quite awhile, resulted in him asking me if I was willing to go to any lengths to resolve my problems. When he said that, I knew immediately that, yes I was. Accepting that my way wasn't working, I finally reached out to others and to my Creator. The ensuing years while not free from the everyday problems of life have been a continual unfolding of blessings. Each year brings new joy and spiritual inspiration. It just keeps getting better and better. I never would have dreamed of the wonders that were in store for me.
Alcoholism is truly a disease that must be self-diagnosed. Until you realize the nature of the problem advice from doctors, spiritual councilors or friends will have no effect.
For me AA was a boon. To talk with people who knew what I was going through and that could offer sound advice was something I desperately needed.
The portion of the Big Book known informally as 'the promises' holds out hope for all sufferers of this affliction.
"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
.......
We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil as if from a hot flame.
We will see that our new attitude has been given to us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it.
We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected.
We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us.
We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience.That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition."
wonderful post.
very inspiring, I can do it again. TY!
Post #107 bears repeating, thanks kanawa ...
The portion of the Big Book known informally as 'the promises' holds out hope for all sufferers of this affliction.
"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
.......
We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil as if from a hot flame.
We will see that our new attitude has been given to us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it.
We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected.
We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us.
We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience.
That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition."