Tuesday, September 29, 2009

they get younger every year




todAAy i AAm grAAteful & thAAnkful

that the more often I practice these principles in all my affairs, the easier my life seems to flow

OK, now for yesterday -- 12:15pm AA meeting which is normally a step-oriented meeting. We were goin g to discuss Step 6. The chairperson had begun when in walked about 20 teenagers. They were from a local treatment/rehab center. He welcomed them as they took seats and we discovered that only 1 had never attended an AA meeting. From that point, the topic was centered around the first step - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and our lives had become unmanageable." For the last 20-ish minutes of the meeting, the chairperson asked for sharing from the teens. Some of the stories they shared brought yours truly to tears.

When I left that meeting, I felt so grateful to be a sober and recovering member of society, not having to worry about jail or death, not having to deal with parents who are abusive or violent addicts, not having to deal with peer pressure from so-called friends or gang members, etc...

Today, I shall be the best human I can be, having learned from my own experiences and those of others.

Living well and beautifully and justly are all one thing.
- Socrates

9 comments:

Scott M. Frey said...

I just bet that was an eye opener for everyone! I pray that those kids heard something that strikes a chord within and gets them into active recovery...

thanks for being at that meeting dAAve!

Anonymous said...

wow, dave - thanks so much for sharing your experience on the 12:15 yesterday. makes me very grateful today....

Mary Christine said...

A new pair of glasses.

Tall Kay said...

How wise of the chairperson to be willing to change topics when he saw a need. I especially love meetings that stay focused on the new people there, right then. It must be so hard for young people. What a cool gift you all got.

Scott W said...

I love it when gratitude slaps me in the face--and when you tear up.

Syd said...

Dave, I'm sure that was powerful. It is hard for me to keep my co-dependence in check when it comes to hearing the stories of young people and children.

Ed G. said...

What a lovely experience for all those involved. Makes me damn proud of our program and your meeting.

Blessings and aloha...

steveroni said...

Analogy: The more I practice my violin, the easier the music seems to flow...

Anonymous said...

awww it's good to know you really are all soft and squishy in there :)

i love that breyers commercial, i bet there's a market out there for it.