I was at a 12-step meeting recently and the topic was about what was the most important thing we'd learned since we'd been in the program. The participants ranged from their early 20's to some in their 60s.
It was a meeting that had me thinking a few days later because a lot of people said similar things. While others had their own unique perspective on what the program had taught them.
For example, one member said that for much of his life he'd tried to control others. And that because of that he'd experienced much difficulty in many areas of his life. He'd been in trouble with employers, the law, his family - nearly all his relationships. What changed him, he said, was that a sponsor who was working with him took him outside the meeting room and had him draw an imaginary three foot circle around his feet. He was puzzled, but did as he was asked. Then the sponsor told him that from now on he needed to understand that everything outside of that circle was none of his business. His business was everything inside the circle.
At first he thought his sponsor was crazy. But, soon he learned that if he lived by the guidelines his sponsor had given him, his life worked much better. The longer he was sober and the more he practiced the fewer problems he had,
There were many other lessons that members had learned since joining AA, too many to describe here. But the one thing I got from the topic was that hanging out with others who had experiences similar to ours, is a wonderful way to learn how to benefit from sobriety. Learning from our fellow addicts and alcoholics is a good way to learn how to live a good life.
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