Dear Alumni,
I hope that you are sober and doing well as you read this. I wanted to share something with you that played a big part in my recovery.
I was 28 years old when I got sober. I had not planned on getting sober–that was the furthest thing from my mind. The consequences finally caught up with me and my back was up against the wall. I had a choice—accept help or go on to the bitter end. I was not yet ready to accept spiritual help. I didn’t even want to be sober at that time. I just didn’t want the looming consequences to finally hit.
My approach at the time was that I was going to give a 12-Step program an honest shot. So, after a year, I can make an honest decision for myself—whether I wanted to be sober or not. But until then, I was going to give it an honest shot so I could make an honest decision for myself. And, that’s what I did. I went to meetings every day, got a sponsor and started calling my sponsor every day. I started to read the Big Book, work the steps with my sponsor and tried to develop a relationship with a higher power of my own understanding. And, things began to happen for me. I began to change—for the better.
It wasn’t long before I decided that I liked sobriety and wanted to stay sober. I have learned so much since I have gotten sober- I have so much to be grateful for. I don’t even think I started living until I got sober. But, when I started to get sober, I started to realize how broken I was. One of the things I realized, at 28 years old, was that I had to grow the hell up—which was a big pill to swallow—a blow to my over inflated ego and overly sensitive ego. However, it was true.
Before I was sober, I basically did what I wanted, when I wanted, and how I wanted. I had to start growing up at age 28. Which means, now I had to start doing what I NEEDED to do, not always what I WANTED to do. Thank God for never turning his back on me. Thank God for sobriety. Thank God for the Program. Thank God for the steps. And, thank God for the people in the Program.
Since I have been sober, I have gotten way more than I deserve, and I try to repay my higher every day for the gifts that I don’t deserve. I don’t put drugs or alcohol in my body, I try to live how I believe my higher power wants me to live. I try to help others and I remain an active member of a 12-Step program in good standing.
I wish you all a lifetime of sobriety and happiness. And, I wish you all a wonderful journey and some good people in your life to travel with.
Take care,
Hans
