I was just thinking about my last two AA meetings and what happened when I got home afterwards.
On Thursday, I got home at just gone nine-thirty. There was a note stuck to my front door. One of my neighbours had a computer problem and wanted me to pop in as soon as I got home and try to sort it out. I did and it was good to leave her flat with the problem sorted.
Last night as I was closing the blinds I glanced outside. There was a white shape that I couldn't make out. I opened the door and saw a white dove just sitting there. I made sure that it wasn't injured, that it was safe and left it for the night.
This morning, I watched it walk about and then fly away.
It suddenly struck me that if I had been drinking I would have missed the simple joy of watching the bird flying away; I wouldn't have been able to sort out my neighbours computer at almost ten o'clock in the evening. I simply would have been too drunk to do anything about anything.
For me, it's the little things in life that underscore what sobriety is all about. This morning I posted off a package to my Mum and Dad - a gift for their golden wedding anniversary. There is no way that I would have done that if I was still drinking. I would have been too hung over and left it for yet another day.
My life is so much richer now in the simplest of ways. I often think of The Promises and find myself amazed that they are starting to happen to me; to this alcoholic. I have emerged from the dark existence of alcohol and come into a light and beautiful world.
I am so full of gratitude to AA. It hasn't given me my life back, but it has given me a new and beautiful life instead. I am so truly lucky.
Take care,
Carol
-- Edited by Quetzal at 16:45, 2006-08-29
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
thank you for that wonderful note. I got goose bumps, I cannot believe how awesome it is to go to bed at night and fall asleep sober and to wake up and know I didn't say something I shouldn't have or forget something that I did.
The simple things to me are doing my dishes before bed and getting my husbands tea and everything ready for the next morning and feeling great when I get up and see that these things are done. Also I have gained so much weight in the last 5 years because I would not eat all day and then after I drank (empty stomach to get drunker) and then get up in the middle of the night and eat everything in the house.
It is funny we could not realize these things before it got out of hand huh?
, you are such a lovely person! You are always so positive, I enjoy your posts so much.