by Norman RockwellBEEN THERE
NOW I'M HERE
Several meetings I've attended the past few days have begun on a great topic, e.g., "Slogans", "Acceptance", "Anonymity", "Honesty", "Step Nine", "Tenth Tradition", to name a few. Seems like after about a half-hour, a member has brought up (almost every meeting--not the same person!) a current affairs topic regarding either world markets and money matters, mortgage foreclosure statistics, unemployment figures, and the like. True, we are living in a time of much distress. I somehow believe these "issues" (still hate that word!) belong maybe before or after the meeting...maybe I'm looking at it wrongly. Of course, if I'm having a foreclosure proceeding against me etc., etc., it's time to "talk it out" during the meeting, if I wish.
Troubled times are almost always with us, it seems. Examples are WW I, the Great Depression, the WW II years 1941-1945 and before and after those years. Then followed Korea, Vietnam, the darkness of Communism with nukes pointed in each direction, then the Middle East conflicts, and many, many in-between moments of worldly uneasiness. And so the pendulum again is swinging along its temporary and momentary, weary trip in the other direction. This shall not affect my happiness, my gratitude, my spirituality, my sobriety!
Thank God, I am just like the couple million miracles of sobriety sitting at tables in rooms all over the world.
After all, who of us has never known being broke--or broken-hearted? Who of us has never known homelessness--or a home with less? Who of us has never known jobless days or months--or low-paying dead-end jobs which we hated? Who of us has not known despair or euphoria, and the ladder of places between?
Yet, I look around the rooms, and see that lots of the members who have been working these Steps, are wearing shoes, look well-fed, have clean shirts, etc., and are fairly groomed...sure, some perfume is TOO much, (OK, Nellie Jane?) -grin-
What I mean is that many of us were not very well off at one time or other, and now things are better. And they will keep getting better. I am learning--during these world crises--patience and (lots of) tolerance. I am learning how to keep a good (great!?) attitude, midst the horrible predicted fateful events of our day. I wish to be at peace, evidently some in the world do not.
Thank you all for allowing me the pleasures of writing and reading here!
10 comments:
I once read in a book that man is not expected to single-handedly change the world. That he is merely expected to mind his own little corner of creation and if everyone would do the same, the world would be a better place. I think you are doing a fine job overseeing your corner of the world. You are an example worth following.
Yeah, Kristin hit it on the head. It's obvious that a lot of us are working at being in this time with writing some fairly heavy posts but doing so without the doom and gloom. Just one drunk telling another drunk how this is affecting them and how we are responding. Thanks Steveroni.
Very well said, Concise-O-Roni.
Oh how I love Norman Rockwell. I have been collecting his peices for years. My late Uncle started this with my very first plate. It is in my home office (broken and glued back together).
I love your post today. We are going through uneasy times and it does not look like from a financial perspecitive there will be relief anytime soon. Who knows what this means. I need to remember that God is still with me, and no matter what happens, the two of us will make it, hand in hand, day by day. Thank you for the message today.
Hey, 'o-Roni...
Good points. Times like these are often what I call the Garbage Cans of life. A tedious time, no one wants to deal with it, gets stinky...but in the end out or away it goes. And then we start again. One door closes and another opens. Could be a time of great transformation going on...
I have found this happens a lot more in meetings than it used to. I suspect it is because the younger people have not hit the bottoms we have and still have the fear.
I used to love it when old timers would stop someone in the middle of an inappropriate share and tell them that such controversies are left to discussions with sponsors. If I am sharing about the loss of my own home and its relationship to my drinking based in experience, strength and hope then that's a good thing. But if I am bringing it up as though it is someone else's fault (party, wall street, markets, politics, whatever) then it is wrong headed and ill intentioned and someone should have the balls to speak up. Just my opinion. I try to remember that a meeting is a place to bring problems, but that it is a place that must not violate the Traditions and promote controversy or cause.
You are an inspiration to me, I hope to one day have your positive outlook on life.
Banana-Girl, FYI, just posted on MC comments that I LUV the "ditch" thing. Thanks for that and your usual positive stuff on the blogs!
I've determined that once again I'm powerless over the financial markets and world economy! I am better off emotionally than I ever have been, except maybe when I was a little boy. So I can fret and worry, or just let it go. I choose to let it go.
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