One thing is for certain, alcoholics never seem to be short on “over thinking” things. Life presents itself, but to us we want to know if there is just a little more. Mentally churning the what if’s and where fore’s. Never satisfied to just accept what is.
I have learned that alcoholism is a fatal illness. I have also learned (the hard way) that if you’re an alcoholic, and still drinking, things will always get worse…never better! I had to experience that process of illumination and understanding until the pain and suffering in my life reached a point where I couldn’t take it anymore.
My solution was alcohol. It was my solution until I drank the value out of drinking. And then, of course, I had a gorilla size problem to deal with. When I survived addiction and got sober, the bigger problem that I have had my entire life was still there. good ole life itself!
My program in sobriety is AA. I don’t go to AA because I have a drinking problem. No, I took care of that! I go to AA because I have a sober problem. And I have had this sober problem for as long as I can remember. I never fit in. I always felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I was never good enough. People were always judging me, or so I thought. The list goes on! Joy was elusive. Happiness…fleeting!
Learning how to live life on life’s terms has been a challenge. Learning how to stop fighting everything and everyone has been a challenge. Learning how to become free from the bondage of self, the stifling self-centeredness that consumes alcoholics, that has been a challenge. But eight years into my sober journey, I can tell you that it has been that most rewarding experience of my life.
The last two years of my life, in particular, have been incredible. And it just keeps getting better each day. it is all due to the fact that I became willing to take a hard look at myself and change. I never knew I had to change. Hell, I just thought that I had a drinking problem and I needed to fix that. Eventually, in this process of becoming truthful and conscious, I could see clearly that all of my problems had one common denominator…ME!
None of these admissions, and then taking corrective actions toward change is easy. In fact, most people don’t. I guess they find it too tough. But for those of us that do make that change, it’s hard to put into words just how great life becomes.
AA is not my life. AA has become my way of life!
My Story 
Love this! Sending cyber high fives!
I can relate with this on so many levels! I love how you put it “I have a sober problem”. Looking back on it, letting go of the alcohol is almost the easy part, having to change your entire way of thinking and behaving is a lot of work and a long process (for me anyway)! However, I would agree, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had yet. Thanks for sharing!
I love AA though I do not drink! The steps and the principle and the one day at a time logo saves my life more than I can imagine. I was introduced to the program by my husband in his hope that I may be able to understand him, in the process I came to understand myself
That’s great. Generally, family members of Alcoholics will go to Alanon. I’m sure they presented that option.
Yah, I used to attend Alanon also and sometimes AA open meeting. But we moved to a place where there is no 12 step meetings.
Ah! I see