Sunday, August 26, 2007

TIME FLIES WHEN YER HAVIN'...

This is my first post as a forty-six year young, I might be whinin' now, but I'm bound to get past it sooner or later! I was so busy complaining that I didn't get a b day card from my mom that I totally forgot about my little squirrel (see above). Yup, my mommy knows how much I love garden prizes, and she got me this little squirrel for my garden. When I start cleaning up my garden for the winter I will post all of the little buddies I have keeping my flowers company! If ya didn't think I was 'nuts' before, just wait until you see my garden babies!! So to alleviate just a little of the insanity that I call my life, here is today's Daily Reflection...

Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves to others. Alcoholcs Anonymous pg 159

These words for me, refer to a tranference of power, through which God, as I understand Him, enters my life. Through prayer and meditation, I open channels, then I establish and improve my conscious contact with God. Through action I then receive the power I need to maintain my sobriety each day. By maintaining my spiritual condition, by giving away what was so freely given to me, I am granted a daily reprieve.

I'm not sure if I want to share this now, but just last week I was faced with the dilemma of giving it away freely for myself and the new(er)comers versus resentments over the not-so-newcomers not being there for me. I know that I have absolutely no control over what other people do in their lives and it brought up some feelings when I attended my home group where only three members (myself included) showed up to run the meeting. There were two new comers there, and I know that it only takes two of us to run a meeting. My only problem was that the person who was schedualed to chair the meeting- and find the speaker- did not show up! It turned out ok though, as the Maven and I ran the meeting and made it an open discussion, which is all good. I was left with wondering though, what would happen if nobody showed up? Where would the still suffering alcoholics go to get what we got, so freely given? I know for me, when I recite the responsibility pledge, I take it seriously :

When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there, and for that, I am responsible.

So now I'll go to what I am grateful for today...

  • that the hand of AA was there for me when I reached out for help
  • that I am 46 and clean and sober
  • it only takes two alcoholics to share their experience strength and hope, for it to be a meeting
  • me and AAngel were invited out to dinner last night, with friends. Food always tastes better when eaten with love and laughter
  • my new squirrel to put in my garden
  • for all of you who share your experience, strength and hope with me and others...

KEEP COMING BACK, IT WORKS!


11 comments:

My Name Here said...

You are tagged.
And that should be taken seriously. Where would we be if it was ignored??

Mary Christine said...

The right people are always there. Just the way it is supposed to be.

Shadow said...

love the little squirrel. i've just started that too, got an owl and a tortoise so far...

Recovery Road London said...

46? Looking good. :-)

It used to drive me mad when people didn't show for a service commitment. I just shrug now. Our local AA switchboard is still slow at updating meeting lists...London is a big place and sometimes meeting close...alkies turn up...no-one there, hall locked. That still bugs me!

Have a groovy day. Hi to the squirrel (they taste like gamey pork, btw. lmao)

Syd said...

The squirrel is nice. I have a few garden statues scattered about in strategic places. I like the Toad Abode the best. You'll have to look for one of them.
As far as the meeting, there is one that I go to that is small. The others are huge with about 40 people. Sometimes when we only have 2 at the small meeting, we join the AA'ers. It works.

sharonsjourney said...

The squirrel is cute, can't wait to see all your buddies.
I know what you mean about people not showing up. The problem I'm having is getting women to pick up newcomers that don't have rides, & take them to meetings. I can't pick them all up & take them to all the meetings. For one, some live way out of the way, & gas is expensive, for another it is time consuming. I do what I can. I know that they're s'pose to call themselves, & I don't know if they are, I know one said she did, & nobody but me called back. That pisses me off. I take that seriously too. But I have to take care of myself too. These women are staying at women's shelters, & such, & don't have money either. I don't know what to do. I have to turn some of them down some of the time, I just can't do it all. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, cuz these women help keep me sober too, & I'm glad to do it, I asked for a phone list from women who could give rides, & they all had conditions. One can only do one day a week, 2 or 3 others only in the daytime. What is AA getting to be anyway? It's not my AA! When a hand reaches out, I am responsible. What about that don't they get?! Guess I've ranted enough. I'm sure glad I could get rides when I needed them. Has AA changed that much, or am I asking the wrong women, or going to the wrong meetings? Something to think about.

Krista said...

Hey girl!! I'm glad to hear how good your doing!! Honey, you don't look at day over 30, seriously!! Miss ya, love ya

dAAve said...

Hayden (my significant other) has been in Ottowa this past week. I should have gotten you 2 guys together to meet. Oh well.

Scott W said...

Thanks for being there.

Shannon said...

LOL I cant get off your page, so I went to go back to my commnet to get back to my page and its not there??? LOL or maybe not yet. I basicly said what Scott said. I am glad you were there

Pammie said...

Hey sweet pea. Well it's a good thing you were at that meeting :)
I go to several meetings where there is no chair person or leader assigned. Whoever is there just steps up and leads....it always works out fine.