Today's the Big Day

They say we alcoholics and addicts that need a 12-step program have a daily reprieve from drugs and alcohol. One day of immunity only....ever. When I first got to the program, I thought that was truly the lamest guarantee that I had ever heard of. For Pete's sake, Walmart gives you 30 days.

A lady who had been sober for over 30 years, one day at a time, asked me just how many days of sobriety did I need at one time? What would I do with them?  How many days can I live at one time?

That helped me to begin to understand the idea that I didn't need more than a daily reprieve. So what do I do the next day to get another repeive? All I have to do is participate in my recovery, again for one day. Our literature calls it the maintenance of my spiritual condition. I do it by getting up in the morning and asking my higher power to keep me sober, I almost always either work with another alcoholic or addict or make a meeting; and I thank my Higher Power for keeping me sober at before I fall asleep. If I have had any troubles during the day I sometimes do a 10th Step. That's an average 24 hours of my program for me. Simple and easy most days.

Now is this everything the literature suggests I do? Absolutely not. Do other people do more? yes. Do other people do less? Have I done less? Have I done more? Yes, yes, yes.

Have I been kept sober up until today? Yes. Is my life continuing to expand, blossom and heal? Absofreekinlutely.

I was in so much fear of relapsing in the beginning, even though my actions were evidence that I was working very hard in recovery. I was making it the top priority in my life, but I was still in intense fear. I had been pulled from the fire and the thought of returning was terrifying. Since I was actively participating in the process, I am fairly sure I would have been kept sober without that degree of fear. It was part of my journey, though. I wonder if it was a requirement?  I am mostly free from that fear today.

I am so content with the gift of just one more day of this awesome new life. My days are ridiculously full. I can hardly remember what boredom is like. I have so much living to pack into this one day.

When days are hard and sad, when tragedy has graced my door, I have a full day to delve into the solution. There is so much help available to me each day that I could never tap it all. Writing , praying, meetings and a whole army of people just waiting to hug me, sit with me and share with me how they were kept sane and sober through similar situations. Too much, to many to pack into one day. That is bounty and it can only be had today.


Thank you all so much for today.


Hold that thought...
James