How many of us would presume to declare, “Well, Im sober and I’m happy. There was always the alibi: “After all,” I said to myself, “I’m far too busy with much more important matters.” That was my near perfect prescription for comfort and complacency. In the first days of A.A., I wasn’t much bothered about the areas of life in which I was standing still. I pray that such understanding, insight and vision shall be mine, and shall make my life eternal, here and now. I believe that the Kingdom of God is within us and we can enjoy “eternal life” here and now. I do not look upon this life as something to be struggled through, in order to get the rewards of the next life. I do not look upon that promise as referring only to the after-life. I believe that complete surrender of my life to God is the foundation of serenity. Have I gotten over that dependence on drinking? For us alcoholics, it got so that we depended on drinking for almost everything. If we had a tough day at the office or if we’d had a fight with our wives, or if things just seemed against us, we felt better under the influence of alcohol. We depended on drinking to help us when we felt low mentally. If we had a toothache or just a hangover, we felt better after a few drinks. It gave us a “kick.” It broke down our shyness and helped us to have a “good time.” We depended on drinking to help us when we felt low physically. We depended on drinking to help us enjoy things. We used to depend on drinking for a lot of things. Tradition Three insured that we would get what we need – each other. Charlotte, the atheist, showed me higher standards of ethics and honor Clay, of another race, taught me patience Winslow, who is gay, led me by example into true compassion Young Megan says that seeing me at meetings, sober thirty years, keeps her coming back. Tradition Three, concentrating on the one way I am similar to others, brought me to know and help every kind of alcoholic, just as they have helped me. I don’t seek out people obviously different from myself. Today I feel enduring gratitude for the spiritual development the Tradition has brought me. It was their guarantee that no one could bar them from A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking”), I thought it valuable only to newcomers. 139įor years, whenever I reflected on Tradition Three (“The only requirement for A.A. member if you say so … nobody can keep you out.” is really saying to every serious drinker, “You are an A.A.
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