Wednesday 4 December 2013

Alcoholics Anonymous | Dec 4 | DonInLondon | Step 12 "Freedom To Choose"

Alcoholics Anonymous Blog & Video | Dec 4 | DonInLondon | Step 12 "Freedom To Choose" Liberty, liberation, release, emancipation, deliverance,

 

Step 12 "Freedom To Choose"

 

December 4, 2013 Step Twelve Month: "having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs..." A very powerful meeting this morning, an early bird meeting. When we use words like powerful, the words we hear, the experience strength and hope shared can be powerful because it impacts on our emotional and spiritual condition. Feelings working normally and powerfully in the moment of now.

 

I feel like I have tapped into a new resource. Over the last few years, Monday to Friday there is an AA or NA meeting on my doorstep and only in the last two days have I been to it or them. I am happy to go to NA, if that is the meeting running even though my experience is addiction to alcohol. People can go to either Fellowship, whichever they prefer, in my case I am beginning to realise that people of any particular persuasion when it comes to addiction don't particularly mind which Fellowship it is because the similarities far outweigh any differences there may be. And I know lots of people who go to these meetings and I'm always awake when they are held just round the corner. I have no idea why I have not been before.

 

The reading this morning came from thought for the day, and in December it’s all about step twelve. And then somebody suggests a subject for discussion and today it was about "celebration." It did provoke a lot of positive and negative sharing of experiences and at the same time the positive was that sober we are able to cope with reality, and if we can't cope we have somewhere to come and ask for help. That was a hardest thing for me, learning to understand that I did not have to stand on my own two feet anymore and being vulnerable and knowing we are vulnerable is an asset rather than a liability. The liability is always thinking we have to come up with the answer, and wondering why the world does not conform or fit with our pattern.

 

I felt better in the meeting, was able to chat and renew contact with people I have not seen for ages and just say hello to people I know. And after the meeting, having a few words with like-minded and very good people, indeed everyone is good in recovery even if they don't know it, this connection and energising will keep me on track today. Celebration in my case for the serenity prayer, can do can't do and wisdom to know the difference, that it is my mother's birthday and I have sent her greetings and love, and am able to support my friends over the phone and in so many ways when asked.

 

The BBC was reporting that a mountain lion is living near the Hollywood sign in Griffith Park Los Angeles. An amazing picture or two, and they commented that the lion was able to survive on deer and rabbits. The first time when I heard the report, I thought they said it was surviving on, "beer and rabbits!" And my mind was speculating about where the mountain lion was getting its beer. Which I thought was better than deer and rabbits. On hearing the truth, the mountain lion went down in my estimations, I was hoping it was roaming in a tipsy frame of mind. Oh well, a sensible mountain lion after all.

 

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