Finding Peace One Day At a Time

Hi, my name is Christopher and I am an Alcoholic. For years I drank to solve every problem; my marriage problems; my financial problems; my employment problems...EVERY problem. Alcohol seemed to be the magic potion that could turn me into the great man that I truly wanted to be. But then, cunningly, it became my master. It became what I call, "the great LOAN SHARK." What I mean is, it would give me what I wanted (a sense of ease, comfort, belonging, and especially confidence), but then it always TOOK from me in INTEREST. It took my home, my career, my money, material possessions, and most of all...my serenity. And one day I woke up and realized that I simply could NOT stop drinking. It had me. I was alcohol's prisoner.

So after years of trying everything I could to stop, I finally had to admit that I was licked, and that I just couldn't quit on my own, and by my own means. And so I entered a sober-living community that seemed to have the solution I was looking for. They took me in, dusted me off, loved me unconditionally, and showed me a program of recovery that would finally allow me to be free; through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Today, I have a wonderful sponsor, I am taking the 12 Steps of AA to the best of my ability, I am around a loving community of people who care about me, and I am able to finally, FINALLY, put my recovery FIRST! I can't say that everything in my life is exactly how I want it to be. However, I CAN say that it is exactly how GOD wants it to be. And I'm learning that THAT is what is most important! Today I'm learning to live one day at a time; and for the first time I'm learning to accept people, places, and situations exactly the way they are. And for an alcoholic like myself, that is a HUGE change. Thank you God for Alcoholics Anonymous and for this wonderful fellowship.

Christopher e. Grateful Alcooholic