Today’s Slogan: “An Attitude of Gratitude”
Through attending AA meetings and working the 12-Step program of recovery, I’ve been fortunate to see just how blessed I am—both as part of the group and as an individual. It’s humbling.
What impresses me most is hearing people share their life’s struggles, ambitions, beginnings, tears, and fears. It wakes me up. Pain, disappointment, and joy are all real emotions in recovery. Sometimes they are raw, yet there is joy even in the struggle because, with AA and God’s help, we can overcome adversity. When I identify with others, I see that we all have these moments. We’re all learning as we go. None of us escapes life unscathed. I’m not exempt from life’s issues just because I’m an alcoholic.
We Still Deal With Life on Life’s Terms
I still deal with relationships—some broken, some mending. I face finances, work, housing, illness, death, birth, and marriage. I’ve learned that I’m not avoiding life’s ups and downs; I’m facing them. And when I’m not equipped to handle something, I look for answers and solutions beyond myself. As it says in How It Works, “That God could and would if He were sought.” I seek guidance through prayer, sponsors, and mentors, realizing that I have needs and can’t do this alone.
Recovery, at every stage, teaches me humility. Just because I’m not drinking doesn’t mean I’m free of faults. There are still areas of my life that need work. Humility is truth. It’s recognizing how limited my abilities are, especially when I reflect on the Serenity Prayer. Still, one day at a time, I get through. I handle what comes my way, and I begin to see the Promises come true. As I do, fear and anxiety take a step back. I experience longer periods of stability—as long as I keep working my AA program.
To me, that’s what serenity means: learning to live without being ruled by conflict. As I continue practicing these principles, I begin to see how the program truly works. In church, I read about miracles; in AA, I see and hear them every day. That gives me something to be deeply grateful for.
As an alcoholic in recovery, I’ve struggled with low self-esteem and low self-worth. Those feelings fade over time, but they can still shake me. That’s what makes grace hard to understand. Why would my Higher Power—why would God—want to help me, of all people? I’ve often felt like I don’t deserve a break. Yet grace shows up anyway. When I look back over my life, I see it clearly—grace arriving right on time. It’s not a one-time thing; it appears again and again throughout my sobriety. These are the moments when I recognize God’s love, patience, and direction.
Grace Gives Me A Moment to Pause
Grace gives me the space to pause, to choose wisely, and to act thoughtfully instead of impulsively. In those moments, I realize I’m truly living the Steps, and the Promises are coming true. The only way I can hold on to these gifts is by giving them away. My story isn’t about me—it’s about AA, the 12-Step program, and a loving Higher Power. That’s what it means to share my experience, strength, and hope: so others can find the same path.
I’m deeply grateful to have found a solution to what once felt like a fatal condition and to have discovered joy in this new way of living. When I suddenly realize that God is doing for me what I could not do for myself, I’m reminded to give thanks—and to share that truth with others, so they too can experience the blessings of recovery.