The more selfless I become through the teachings of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous the more weary I become of a world filled with selfishness and bent on self-destruction.
One of the reasons I come into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous is to get away from the selfishness, the bitterness, the ignorance, the competitiveness, the arrogance, and the lack of, the basic lack of brotherly love out there in the real world -and the feeling that I don’t belong! A world where many people don’t even realize what’s killing them!
As Alcoholics in Alcoholics Anonymous, WE have but two primary purposes: That of staying sober; and that of helping other alcoholics to achieve sobriety! To share what WE have learned in life and what I have been taught in these rooms! For me specifically, to share with others that they might not be caught off guard by their alcoholism!
Occasionally, I have people come up to me after a meeting to shake my hand or simply thank me for what I shared. There’s an old saying in Alcoholics Anonymous which applies to me as well, “if you have a problem with someone in the rooms (or elsewhere) -start by looking at yourself first”. There’s another saying, “If one or two people in a room think your a jerk- you can probably blow them off -if everyone in the room thinks your a jerk…” 🤔
Every day in a meeting I bring it a 100%! On a personal note, my primary purpose is to see everyone stay, stay sober, and become better human beings! Many times in Alcoholics Anonymous I have heard it said “this is the last house on the block” -If we run the alcoholic out where else are they to go? If you run me out where else am I to go? Which is one of the reasons we recommend putting principles before personalities. No one expects the Alcoholic (self-centered and defiant in the extreme) to get this thing in one day – But an attitude of blatant disregard for all things spiritual; or that of contempt for your fellow Alcoholic -is a threat to all!
We are either a help to people in here or a hindrance. We are either carrying the message or carrying the disease! WE who have gone before, cannot be as effective in OUR purpose if people are going to fight US!