Change is the characteristic of all growth. From drinking to society, from dishonesty to honesty, from conflict to serenity, from hate to love, from childish independence to adult responsibility--all this and infinitely more represent change for the better.
Such changes are accomplished by a belief in and a practice of sound principles. Here we must discard bad or ineffective principles in favor of good ones that work. Even good principles can sometimes be displaced by the discovery of still better ones. ~As Bill Sees It
Today I am grateful...
- that I do not think I don't need to go to meetings any longer. Someone called me last night for the first time to let me know they would no longer be attending AA. I was surprised at the call and I concentrated on not saying the wrong thing. What I asked was why. He answered that he was tired of every day being told he was imperfect and having to look at that. He also said he had been in AA off and on for 34 years and didn't see anyone change. I told him he must not be paying attention, that many people have changed. That I had kept my basic personality, but that many, many things about me were different. I told him that, from a selfish standpoint, I would miss seeing him and that if he got lonely and needed to talk to call me. And that we would always be there. I guess that's about all I could do.
- that my life is not full of gin and regret (that's a Will and Grace reference)
- that I am learning more and more to be flexible out of necessity
You cannot change your type, but you can make yourself a brilliant success at that type. ~Emmet Fox
13 comments:
Flexibility is a talent and a gift!
WOW Scott! Great to see you still here and blogging! I'm going to try to get back in to it. Glad you and Bunny are doing so well. Love to read you! Always a pleasure! Talk to you soon!
Lex-Sunshine
I hope that the person who has decided he doesn't need AA will stay sober. I know that I'll never "graduate" from Al-Anon. It's a life time of recovery for me.
Love that quote.
wow. I am sad to hear that about your friend, but I think you have said the perfect thing. Sounds like he is going through something hope he makes it out
have a great day Scott
Emmett Fox said a mouthful.
Goodness. 34 years of AA to then decide he doesn't need AA? Bizarre.
34 years in and OUT of AA. He also told me he refused to work the 4th step.
First, I agree with Shann -- sounds like you said just the right thing.
But, second, so sad to hear that your friend has chosen 34 years of hard headbanging against the wall of the 4th step. That's got to be pure hell.
Keep up the good work. I'll say a prayer for your friend.
LOL-your last comment- If you haven't worked the 4th step after 34 years...then damn, no wonder!
Changeing up meetings is so nice every now and then...but not going at all...no not for me.
Some truly are sicker than others.
never taking care of the insides can be a bummer
Well, I don't blame that guy one bit. Thirty-four years is a long time to spend on the first three steps. I reckon this program doesn't work after all.
Or, he could just start at the first step again and try a running start.
Why is the phrase contempt without investigation tolling in my head?
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