Hi family! Joannie here, an alkie for sure.

Sobriety and staying that way is so important to me that I will do most anything to keep it today. It wasn't always that way. I was sober for almost three years at one point, and nothing had changed except I didn't drink. I wouldn't or couldn't get the drift of this program. It wasn't until I was literally brought to my knees that I began to see that the program of Alcoholics Anonymous was more than just putting down the drink. There was a whole lot more, and it had to start with my attitude. I did not have an attitude of gratitude, and was of the opinion that not drinking would solve all my problems. It didn't. It just brought them up and they glared at me in the face. I drank at them for so long I didn't know how to deal with them sober. Thanks to listening at meetings, sharing at meetings, finding a sponsor, and working the Steps, my attitude gradually began to change. I was finally seeing where I actually had choices and could make a difference in my life, but I had to participate in it. AA was not going to change my life if I didn't. I finally understood that, and worked at not only not drinking, but also at changing the things I could change, accepting the things I could not change, and asking my Higher Power to help me with all the above every day, all day. Today, I make no decisions without checking in with my Higher Power and doing the next right thing. It may sound corny to some, but it is helping me to stay sober one day at a time.

Thank you for letting me share.