Lately I’ve been jouirnaling about this topic. While I’ve been sober for 45 years, and I don’t feel any urge at all to have a drink, I realize that Alcoholic Anonymous has a lot to teach me about being a good person. About being a person who deals with obstacles and problems with grace instead of alcohol. I can use these tenants in my life.

11-19-23 My journal entry today: 

The sober, serene life in this wide and wonderful world can provide us what we need. Sometimes setting forth into the vast unknown can seem scary. But we pray for serenity to accept those things we cannot change–some of which make us fearful. 

For example, thinking about how we can NEVER AGAIN have a drink may make us afraid of failure and it may seem a daunting goal. But that’s what’s so great about AA’s mantra, “One day at a time.” 

Any goal we may choose can be accomplished one day at a time. We can throw out the NEVERs, FOREVERs, and all the SHOULDs we give ourselves. 

Sobriety can be trusted. 

Drinking cannot be trusted.

And we have countless reasons to trust in our sobriety. It guides us into a safer, new way of experiencing our lives. In SOBRIETY there is JOY for all of us. 

I choose JOY. ONE DAY AT A TIME.

urnal 11-24-23

When shame and guilt show up on my doorstep, I have learned to face them. But I do not let them take me down. As I’ve  learned, the past is the past. We live in the here and now. Rather than wallow in the pain of shame, I begin by doing some deep breaths and taking time to either read about ways to get back on track, write in my journal, exercise or pray/meditate. Sometimes, all of the above.

As a normally positive thinking person, I continue to work on choosing to let go of that ugly part of my life. Shaking hands with shame and guilt is a waste of time. After all, sobriety is where I live now and while life will always be in flux, and there will be ups and downs, it’s how I deal with obstacles and problems that make the difference.

After all, I might stop and take a few moments to congratulate myself on my sobriety. I might make a list of things I’m grateful for, remembering that serenity comes in my acceptance of things I can’t change. I continue to work to change what I can. I don’t wake up in strange places wondering how I got there anymore. Blackouts are a thing of the past. I’ve moved on.

What is in my wheelhouse is the understanding that I can choose to forgive myself. With confidence, I can put my shoulders back, stand up straight, reach with my head to the ceiling, and know that my creator is there for me if I ask for guidance. Even though I got sober without the aid of AA, today I am finding comfort in its tenants; especially in the awareness piece.

Living with awareness means always paying attention to the higher power that guides me.

I need only ask for that guidance. Then I can get on with living in the present. Today is the ballgame I’m playing in. I just need to step up to the plate and swing my bat. 

My mother used to say, “Let go, and let God.” With that advice I have faith I’ll  be guided to get to first base, and sometimes even round the bases to home plate.