Just for Today
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
“Liquor ceased to be a luxury; it became a necessity. ‘Bathtub’ gine, two bottles a day, and often three, bot to be routine. Sometimes a small deal would net a few hundred dollars, and I would pay my bills at the bars and delicatessens. This went on endlessly, and I began to waken very early in the morning shaking violently. A tumbler full of gin followed by a half a dozen bottles of beer would be required if I were to eat any breakfast. Nevertheless, I still thought I could control the situation …” - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 1 (“Bill’s Story”), p 5.
Just for today, grant me understanding that drinking is neither a luxury nor a “right” for me and that I can never again be a “responsible” drinker but, in fact, will progress in severity as it did for Bill W. And as he came to believe that he could control “the situation” but eventually could not, so it goes for me as well. Let me recognize that the lifeline that is there for me was not there for Bill W.: he helped to develop the lifeline. The help that Bill W. co-authored is there for me now, when it wasn’t there for him. Today, I will not just ask for help - I will embrace it. And our common journey continues. Just for today. - Chris M., 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
“Liquor ceased to be a luxury; it became a necessity. ‘Bathtub’ gine, two bottles a day, and often three, bot to be routine. Sometimes a small deal would net a few hundred dollars, and I would pay my bills at the bars and delicatessens. This went on endlessly, and I began to waken very early in the morning shaking violently. A tumbler full of gin followed by a half a dozen bottles of beer would be required if I were to eat any breakfast. Nevertheless, I still thought I could control the situation …” - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 1 (“Bill’s Story”), p 5.
Just for today, grant me understanding that drinking is neither a luxury nor a “right” for me and that I can never again be a “responsible” drinker but, in fact, will progress in severity as it did for Bill W. And as he came to believe that he could control “the situation” but eventually could not, so it goes for me as well. Let me recognize that the lifeline that is there for me was not there for Bill W.: he helped to develop the lifeline. The help that Bill W. co-authored is there for me now, when it wasn’t there for him. Today, I will not just ask for help - I will embrace it. And our common journey continues. Just for today. - Chris M., 2012
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