The AA Promises
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
1. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
2. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
3. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
4. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
5. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
8. Self-seeking will slip away.
9. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
10. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
11. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
12. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves
In 2023, the promises of recovery began to manifest in my life. I had landed what seemed initially like a wonderful job opportunity, chased my dream of moving to one of my favorite places, and began to feel financial security. Things felt like they had fallen into place. I vividly remember pinching myself one night in my apartment, it didn’t feel real. Seemingly overnight, my life had changed from one of feeling constantly behind the eight ball to feeling accomplished and fulfilled.
That all changed Labor Day weekend. I was so excited to have four days off, my first real weekend off since I started my new job. All loose ends were tied up.
Then I got a missed call from my boss. I called her back. I remember how she, with an eerie calmness in her voice, explained how the practice was closing effective immediately. I was floored. My coworkers and I were out of jobs, and our vulnerable patients were without providers. We all did what we could for our patients and each other, but those weeks after were pure hell. In an instant, my dream turned into a nightmare.
What followed were endless weeks of anxiety as I searched for a new job and did what I could to help patients navigate the wreckage. While at the same time, navigating challenges in my personal life. My job search was draining, as I searched for a company I could feel valued and supported by.
Through all of this madness, there’s one thing that stands out. I stayed sober. Alcohol was the last thing on my mind. That, I think, is the most important promise of recovery. Sure, the material things are nice. But to have the clarity and peace of mind to make it through some of life’s toughest storms without numbing out with a drink or a drug, is a huge thing for this alcoholic. Sobriety has truly been the greatest gift. Sobriety gave me my determination, my brain, and my love for life back.
2024 is going to present its own unique challenges. But I’m ready, let’s go!!
sobrietea~ go sober 
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