Now comes the biggest question yet. What about the practice of these principles in all our affairs? Can we love the whole pattern of living as eagerly as we do the small segment of it we discover when we try to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety? Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group? Can we have the same kind of confidence and faith in these people who have been infected and sometimes crippled by our own illness that we have in our sponsors? Can we actually carry the A.A. spirit into our daily work? Can we meet our newly recognized responsibilities to the world at large? And can we bring new purpose and devotion to the religion of our choice? Can we find a new joy of living in trying to do something about all these things? Furthermore, how shall we come to terms with seeming failure or success? Can we now accept and adjust to either without despair or pride? Can we accept poverty, sickness, loneliness, and bereavement with courage and serenity? Can we steadfastly content ourselves with the humbler, yet sometimes more durable, satisfactions when the brighter, more glittering achievements are denied us? The A.A. answer to these questions about living is “Yes, all of these things are possible.”
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All things are possible with God and sober. I am still in awe about that. I hope I never forget the horror of what it feels like waking up hungover and having to work the next day, or having to experience the soul crushing humiliation and embarrassment of reliving the memories of the wild night before. What’s even more amazing to me is truly being able to practice these principles in everyday life. So even when I’ve had a horrible day, or week, I can still practice our principles during the temporary dark season. Maybe not perfectly, which is why it says practice, but consistently; and because of the daily grounding into God and the program, that has rewired me to rebound and recalibrate from things that before would have sent me into dark and long spells of depression. Everyday is another opportunity, even when it’s not exciting, to get to know God and ask how we may fit ourselves to be of maximum use for him and our fellows-and if all I can do is share about that experience, and put myself out there for someone who may have it worse but sees that I am sober and still here attempting to be of service, than that is enough.
Please share your ESH as to how you carry the A.A. spirit into situations that before would have caused you to spiral.