When I drank, I hid it from my folks out of respect for their feelings. This continued until I was twenty-seven. I know now that 60 percent of the time I drank alone without benefit of customers.
I’d work okay for three or four weeks, and then I wouldn’t want to get up in the morning. I’ll get another job, I would think, but I always got fired. Why had she given me this, and what Alcohol Use Disorder made her think I was drinking? Couldn’t she see that my bottle was soda? I folded the paper neatly and put it in the back pocket of my jeans.
We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past. Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience.
I knew that I had a helper whom I could rely upon, who wouldn’t fail me. If I could stick to Him and listen, I would make it. I remember when the boys came back, I told them, “I have gone to this Higher Power, and I have told Him that I am willing to put His world first, above everything. For the benefit of those experimentally inclined, I should mention the socalled beer experiment. When beer first came back, I thought that I was safe.
The matter of physical treatment should, of course, be referred to your own doctor. Whatever the method, its object is to thoroughly clear mind and body of the effects of alcohol. In competent hands, this seldom takes long nor is it very expensive.
When making amends to someone in active addiction, safeguard your own health and recovery. This might mean delaying the amends or finding alternative ways to demonstrate your commitment to change without putting yourself at risk. The goal is to maintain your recovery while striving to make things right. A well-thought-out strategy and readiness can make the amends process more effective and meaningful. Thorough preparation ensures your actions align with your intentions and positively contribute to your recovery journey and the relationships you are trying to mend. When planning, start with the people closest to you and create a communication strategy.
And I still say that as long as I remember that January 8 in Washington, that is how long, by the grace of God as I understand Him, I will retain a happy sobriety. living amends meaning Bill and Hank had just taken over a small automobile polish company, and they offered me a job – ten dollars a week and keep at Hank’s house. We were all set to put DuPont out of business. When I am through speaking, the whole idea has become absurd.
No one likes to admit that they’re a drunk, that they can’t control this thing. But when we come into A.A., we can face our problem honestly and openly. I went to closed meetings and open meetings. Easy does it, first things first, one day at a time. It was at that point that I reached surrender.
Here was love, applause, war; moments sublime with intervals hilarious. I was part of life at last, and in the midst of the excitement I discovered liquor. I forgot the strong warnings and the prejudices of my people concerning drink. In time we sailed for “Over There.” I was very lonely and again turned to alcohol. There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot take a drink. He changes his brand or his environment.
Apologizing is one thing, but go one step further (actually, the 9th step!) and make amends where you can. If you’ve stolen money, repay it if you can. If you’ve damaged property, replace it. Maybe you can meet with those who you’ve really hurt face to face in order to let them know how sorry you are.