Hello! I'm Cheryl S., a grateful alcoholic.

Thank you for giving me a morning meeting. I wake up and find what I need online! I have recently been dealing with a serious illness. There were times when I was unable to get out to a meeting, and I sank into a deep depression because of the illness, and because I isolated myself. Because I had established a solid foundation in my beginning years in the program, there were people who refused to allow me to give up. Actually, they refused to give up on me despite my desire to give up on myself. When I was in a place that was as dark as the bottom I hit with alcohol, they appeared like magic. Some might call it a miracle. They got me to a safe place and loved me until I was healthy enough to care whether I lived or died. I have learned much through this time. I have learned a form of acceptance that gets me through the dark times. I have learned that I am able to be grateful for the beauty of each moment, and the blessings I do have in life both large and small. I find moments when the pain is less, or a night when I sleep five hours straight through, and am grateful. I am also able to help others who are ill just as we are with alcoholism. Without AA, I would not be able to put my illness into perspective and fully live the rest of my life in joy and freedom. I am a very grateful alcoholic!