Hi Todd, thanks for your post.
Yeah, I'm all for adaptions of whatever too no problemo. I'm a firm believer in people being at their best when they are themselves thru and thru no matter the particular circumstances in play of whatever external situations. I don't care much for political correctness, and I hope it shows I don't.
Not to stir the pot, but the Christian atheist comment was more an example of an impossible claim, a oxymoron statement, which was given as an example of how impossible it is for me, apparently, to practice AA and AVRT together. Although I can agree being a Christian atheist is an impossibility, practicing AA and AVRT together is totally possible and doable. It's not for everyone, and it doesn't have to be either.
An interesting thread. I've learned new insights into myself, and into some others from this thread. Valuable insights. I'm actually surprised I became reactively hurt and defensive, I had thought myself immune to others rants. I am better for it, learning my lesson, then having not had this thread.
I will continue to measure my success on my appreciation of the ashes of my failures. I understand failure. Failure is no enemy of mine. Struggle and conflict are not automatically experiences I attempt to avoid either.
With failure/success comes ego. I have a well seasoned ego. Gratitude and humility moderate my ego, at least I believe my ego is being moderated, lol. I have earned my ego, and I often feel like one of the luckiest guys notwithstanding my lifetime of personal challenges.
Sobriety for me is a part of my life, and not my life itself. I quit drinking so as not to die drunk. Period. I now maintain a spiritual sobriety so as to take real advantage of my past experiences with alcoholism. I have chosen to embrace my alcoholism. I could choose otherwise, and make just as good as a case for myself too. I'm always surprised how some others tell me my choices are wrought with peril and misfortune.
I intimately remember my years of drunkenness. To think that the guy typing out these words is the same guy who drank is seriously almost unthinkable. Almost.
I've come along way. We all have, haven't we?