Nov. 10, 2012 - Just for Today

Just for Today
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012

"Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. ...Their chances are less than average." -Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 5 ("How It Works"), p 58.

Just for today, if enough has become enough, if despair has cut too deeply, if fear has gained the upper hand, if my lies have been so many that I can't lie to even myself anymore, I seek the strength to take control and say no more to all of it and, especially, commit myself not to be one of those who are "constitutionally incapable" of being honest. Whether I am struggling not to drink but the bottle is winning or I am giving temptation or craving the stronger hand, today, enough becomes enough and I muster the brutual honesty that I not become one of the "constitutionally incapable's." For if I allow dishonesty to be the way of my life, I have little chance of finally taking back control of my life by getting sober. I will not fall deeper into the gutter, nor will I keep lying to myself and anyone else simply because it has become a habit - even when telling the truth is easier. Today, not tomorrow, I begin the work to become "constitutionally capable." With that, in the words of the Program's Big Book, I am ready to begin the Steps toward recovery. But honesty is my starting gate. And our common journey continues. Just for today. - Chris M., 2012