March 31 - The 3 Stories

When we carry the message, there are usually 3 stories we tell. One is before we get up to the podium, when we are thinking about what to say. I should tell them this or I should tell them that. Another story we tell is the one after we sit down. Damn, I should have said that. and then, there is the story we actually tell when we are up there speaking. The one that comes from our heart instead of our head. That's usually the best one.

March 25 - Positive Action

With the recent pandemic and all its uncertainty, it's sometimes difficult to find positive things to focus on. But, isn't that always the way. It's so easy to find something nagative to focus on during a positive situation, but never the other way around. But, there are a few things I can do to ensure my personal safety. I can continue to wear my face mask when I am out in public situations. I can continue to observe safe distancing, especially when shopping, allow others some personal space, try to be patient and not rush other people. I can continue to have regular covid tests (I do that because my employer requires it but it also gives me peace of mind). And just now, I signed up through my pharmacy for vaccine eligibility. They are just simple things, but they are positive actions that I can take to ensure my safety and the safety of those around me.

March 24 - Pride

Pride and fear have been called the chief stumbling blocks to spiritual progress. Pride tells me that I don't need to do this or that and fear tells me I better not. 

It's interesting for me to remember that the opposites of fear and pride are faith and humility. As I go through life, I accomplish things. I just need to keep in mind that any successes I achieve today are far greater His successes than mine.

March 22 - Expectations

It is said that an expectation can be a premeditated resentment. I often place expectations on people to act or react a certain way. Naturally, I don't tell them how they should act or react because they should already know. They, being human, fail to meet my expectations which disappoints me. I don't tell them how they made me feel because they know me well enough that they should already know how I feel and that it's their fault. You'd think they would at least apologize for their inadequacies but they don't do that either and I start to get resentful. Now, if I didn't place expectations on them in the first place, think how much less trouble they would get themselves into.

March 21 - Anonymity

Bill W, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, once said that each member of AA should be entitled to the level of anonymity that he or she chooses and the rest of us should respect that. Some folk will give their first name and nothing else. We need to respect their need for privacy. And then there are folk like me who will give my name and number, place of employment, facebook, instagram, whatever, and you all need to respect my choice. 

March 20 - Surrender

Surrender, like acceptance, are not easy concepts to grasp especially when you grow up thinking that showing any signs of weakness makes one less of a man. I don't think that way now but a lot of the ways I look at life today are not the way I saw things back then. Surrender really is a lot easier than we think it is. It is merely an acknowledgement that I cannot do something, such as staying away from a drink, and that I need help doing that. In fact, the first 3 steps were explained to me as Step One - I can't. Step Two - He can. Step Three - maybe I'll let Him. Most good ideas are simple.

March 19 - Unity

Tradition One talks about unity at the group level, that the well-being of everyone, in the group, is necessary so that each individual's welfare can be safeguarded. I'm at a meeting and one member is sharing about a problem he's having with some medication his psychologist precribed for him. A few older members look uncomfortable. It sounds like a serious matter, to him, and one that should be discussed in privacy with his sponsor. I'd like to point that out to this person since I am the chairperson after all. But, being the chair of the meeting doesn't make me the boss so instead of doing what I feel I should do, instead of setting this guy straight, I simply share on whatever topic had been decided on at the start of the meeting, I might even throw in a bit about the value of having a sponsor with whom I can share the more intimate details of my story. Then I wait to see what happens next. The next person that shares stays on topic and so does the next person and eventually the general talk in the room returns to a discussion on alcoholism and not one on prescription medication.

There are many topics we can talk about in meetings which might be very interesting but have nothing to do with AA or alcoholism and what might happen is these members who were uncomfortable might leave and never come back. If a chairperson chastises an errant member in front of everyone, that person might leave and never come back. We might subsequently sign their death warrants. So, for the good of everyone, we should keep our main focus on the problem of alcoholism and let outside professionals deal with these other matters.

March 18 - First Things First

 First Things First. There are a few things I do first thing in the morning. Some are for my physical well-being, some are for my emotional well-being and some are for my spiritual well-being. I'm reminded of what I heard a speaker say. The days I pray turn out better than the days I don't pray. So pray, ask for a little guidance. In the big book it says, "We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin...we ask God to direct our thinking....Most good ideas are simple.

March 17 - Commitment

 Every morning, during my morning ritual that I do, I pick a word or slogan from my god box. I do that every morning, not just the mornings that it's convenient. Today, it was gossip. Gossip is nobodys friend. I once heard it called a polite form of murder by character assassination. It's an attempt to make me look good by making someone else look bad.

I was chairing a meeting last night as part of a service commitment that I do and just before the meeting started I could hear idle chatter. What caught my attention was two members with long term sobriety gossiping. I would have liked to straighten them out but it's really not my place. Reminds me of a slogan I got a few days ago. Live and Let Live. It reminds me that I should live my life according to the principles I choose to but I should also allow others to live their life according to whatever principles they choose to. Even if I disagree with them.

I have another service commitment tonight. I chair a meeting at my place at 8 pm. So, from 730 until 930, I am not available for anything anyone asks me to do. I've turned down work shifts, family gatherings, political rallies, sporting events, whatever it is, because I am not available. I plan my life around my meetings, not my meetings around my life. Because I know that without my meetings I won't have much of a life.

End of rant.