Darkrooms and Developing Fears
My Darkrooms My recovery has been about clearing out the darkrooms in my mind and heart where I often developed imaginary, unsound fears. (Thanks to a reading in A New Day, page 258) A few acronyms for fear shed light
Releasing what was never mine to control; Embracing what is mine to enjoy.
I am a sober and grateful recovering alcoholic; a friend of Bill W. since 1981. Letting Go and Holding Tight may seem incompatible actions, but they are complementary suggestions for daily living that contribute mightily to sanity, sobriety, and serenity even on hard days, and especially on good ones. I have learned – and am still learning – to let go of alcohol and hold on tight to my higher power and the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. This blog’s theme, confidence, and tune is: The God of my understanding will not drop or reject me, and the program’s principles will not fail when I practice them.
My Darkrooms My recovery has been about clearing out the darkrooms in my mind and heart where I often developed imaginary, unsound fears. (Thanks to a reading in A New Day, page 258) A few acronyms for fear shed light
Newcomers Nothing like some newcomers to a meeting with several old-timers that opened a window through which blew memories, igniting gratitude! The sharing that day brought memories of walking into my first meeting — 1:00 PM at what was then
Be Willing, my sponsor kept saying Willingness is the key; but, I balked at the twelfth step for many years: STEP TWELVE: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to
This Day’s Proverb: Some days a little zinger will remind me recovery is more than not drinking: You can’t beg God to heal you and stay loyal to what’s killing you. Help us Lord, change us Lord, heal us Lord,
Somebody I Knew I learned somebody in our family died —alone. They lost their battle with alcoholism and diabetes; they were found dead. It really hurts to see the disease take somebody down — especially when so much of their life
“Acceptance was the answer,” was the Chapter’s title so many told me to read. (page 407) But what was the question? Over the years many questions popped up because of choices my drinking enabled. At twenty-three, I asked my reflection
Alcohol gave me permission to do stuff I knew was wrong; and for a while that was OK by me. But alcoholic drinking means losing more than physical health – it means ceding sanity and holiness to an insatiable craving. My drinking alcohol was like wrestling a Sumo wrestler who has let me win for a few rounds, but who then signals he is about to force me outside the bounds.
How did I get myself in this fix?
My answers and more questions come from three sources:
If anything you read here makes sense, it’s probably because someone wiser than I am said it. I cite my sources so you can assess their usefulness.
I believe God puts ways of escape before us in every temptation — so, I am sharing ways of escape that others suggested, that helped me not to pick up a drink, or become the excuse another alcoholic could use to drink.
I hope what you read will strengthen your daily resolve if you have a desire to stop drinking – or if you love someone who drinks too much. Do not despise the day of small beginnings! (Zechariah 4:10)
“There’s a thing in AA, something they read in a lot of meetings, The Promises. Most of those promises have come true in my life: we’ll come to know a new freedom and new happiness, that’s true. But it also says in there: we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. And I have no wish to shut the door on the past. I have been pretty upfront about my past. But do I regret? I do. I do. I regret the necessity.” ~ Stephen King, The Guardian. com
Your comments and questions are welcomed.
Warm Regards,
Sober & Grateful
PS: The Twelfth Principle of Alcoholics Anonymous is that of anonymity. Maintaining my anonymity isn’t a dodge to protect my reputation – maintaining my anonymity protects Alcoholics Anonymous’ reputation!
PPS: Here are links to AA’s website: Alcoholics Anonymous, and The AA Promises. Also, here’s a helpful book: Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave – Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel, by Edward T. Welch.