Way back when I entered recovery in 1990,
I was handed a Big Book, a 12 x 12 Step Book
and a little black 24Hours a Day prayer Book.
It was suggested to me to get a sponsor
before exiting my 28 day rehab stay and
complete the program with a 6 week after
care program once released.
In early recovery I was in the learning
process of how to live life sober incorporating
all those important tools taught to me
from day one in all my affairs.
With emotions all over the place, my
sponsor referred me to page 449 each
and every time to read and apply it
to my situation in which I did.
With 27 yrs sobriety, I continue to
maintain my sobriety, remain teachable
and apply all those important lessons
taught to me from day 1 to continue to
achieve serenity, peace of mind, balance,
honesty, health, happiness, Faith and
so much more.
From page 417 of The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:
And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.
When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person,
place, thing, or situation—some fact of my life —
unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until
I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being
exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world
by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could
not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s
terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so
much on what needs to be changed in the world as on
what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.
Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the
men and women merely players.” He forgot to mention
that I was the chief critic. I was always able to see the
flaw in every person, every situation. And I was always
glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection,
just as I did.
A.A. and acceptance have taught me that there
is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad
in the best of us; that we are all children of God
and we each have a right to be here. When I complain
about me or about you, I am complaining about God’s
handiwork. I am saying that I know better than God.