Grace Really Is Amazing

 Sometimes I make the point at AA meetings that everything happens for a reason. If it weren't for alcoholism, I wouldn't know anyone in those rooms, I wouldn't have achieved my lifetime goal of writing a book, and I wouldn't be in a position to help others battling addictions. I say thank you God!

Chuck Smith, in Why Grace Changes Everything, (https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/why-grace-changes-everything_chuck-smith/323595/item/690097/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_non_scarce_used_nca_22292660096&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22296401182&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45hJ8GR9uxFB9kWBAhuG2SFIe&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGQRUcJNhRYVanXm4tzTbzhexWB2X6oB5vt5FOcK22SKOGVoWb3shZRoC1OYQAvD_BwE#idiq=690097&edition=2309660), writes, "Wherever we find ourselves, God has a reason for placing us there. He has his hand upon our lives and upon each circumstance in our lives. We may be going through difficult trials, but hardships are necessary. God wants to develop in us the characteristics that will enable us to fulfill his plan for us."

Please, God, work your will through me, whatever that will is.

What Life Events Are Causing You to Drink?

 Not long ago, I finished a book called The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure, by Chris Prentiss (https://passagesmalibu.com/philosophy/the-alcoholism-and-addiction-cure). I highly recommend it if you are looking for reasons why you can't stop drinking.

It was clear to me that my alcoholism was the result of being laid off after 16 years working the best job I ever had, not being able to find another full-time position without moving away, and missing my many social contacts. There were other factors, but losing my job was at the top of the list. I had to find a positive way to deal with suddenly sitting home alone so much. It took me a while to understand that.

Prentiss, in his book, writes, "All of life presents us with two basic ways to treat events. We can either label them 'good for us' or 'bad for us.' How we treat those events determine(s) what they become in our lives. It is not the event that determines the outcome. The event is only an event. It's how we treat the event that determines its outcome in our lives."

So identify the event or events that are leading to your abuse of alcohol. Then ask yourself how you are dealing with those events. In my case, I let myself fall into a depression where only alcohol, not prescription anti-depressants, could give me immediate relief.

Having Patience With Patients

 At my AA homegroup meeting today, Eddie pointed out that doctors and therapists can't understand alcoholism unless they have experienced addiction for themselves. I raised my hand and agreed, with a personal addition.

"I didn't become an alcoholic until I  was into middle age. Up until then, I remember discussions with my wife, claiming, 'I don't understand why people who drink and do drugs know they are destroying their lives and others' lives, but they don't do anything to stop it. They are miserable. So why don't they just quit?'

"Of course we know why they can't just quit. I didn't understand until my drinking became a problem that messed up my life and the lives of people I loved. I couldn't quit. Finally, I understood. Now, I hope I have helped some people who can't quit, and that I will continue to help people stop drinking."

I ended there. I didn't tell about a young friend of mine who I will call Sandra. After the meeting, I took her to the psych hospital, where she had recently been  a patient -- again! She needed to pick up her prescriptions, which she had lost after being discharged a couple days ago. She has relapsed too many times for me to remember. Her last relapse ended with her fighting another woman in her rehab house, which led to her getting another heave-ho and a criminal charge against her. Back in the day, I wouldn't have understood her addictions and would have abandoned her long ago. Because of my own alcoholism, I can be more patient and understanding.

Is there someone in your life who needs your patience and understanding?

Meanwhile, Back to Blogging

I'm back! I haven't blogged for months for two reasons: 1) I was digitizing thousands and years of color slides to preserve them and share them with family; and b) I just got lazy.

Fortunately, I've maintained my sobriety, shared at a bunch of AA meetings, celebrated my seventh birthday, and sold more copies of my book about addiction (https://www.amazon.com/Corking-Bottle-Day-Day-Guide/dp/B0CD9L6P8Z if you want to check it out). I love to write (my background is in journalism, which you know if you have read my aforementioned book) and I have missed blogging. I hope people find this and read it (which I know has happened since you just read this sentence).

Please check back once in a while, tell others about this blog, and share your thoughts and ideas.