Take it "One Day at a Time"

It really is hard to imagine that the last time my entire family was with me at a “birthday” celebration was 3 years ago. I had the honor and privilege of celebrating that first birthday with three other members. Now three years later I had the same honor and privilege of celebrating my fourth year in the GA Program with two members and one of those members was at that first celebration. I am a bit saddened that the two other members are no longer associated with the GA program and I can only hope that they did not go back to the insanity. I do often think about those former members because they were very good members prior to me going away and they were in the courtroom that faithful day when I was sentenced. However; I have only seen one of them once since I have been back in the free world and once again I do hope that some of the wonderment inside the program stays with both of them. I do know I need and want the GA Program as it continues to save my life.

The celebration was wonderful and I did get inkling as to what it takes to really embrace recovery. There were several members who came from a great distance to help in the celebrations. It was no coincidence that these members have many years in the program. When I first entered the program I spoke with many members with a number of years in recovery and I really wanted what they had. The overwhelming response I got was to take it “one day at a time” and life will get better. They were certainly correct as life does get better and when a member told me when I first entered the program that I would “never have to feel that way again” as long as I apply the principles of the program in my daily affairs. This member was correct and thankfully four years removed from that very faithful day I don’t have to feel that way again. Living a life with honesty, open-mindedness and the willingness to do the right thing is the only way to live, thank you so very much for opening my eyes to the right way to live.

With the celebration over we returned home. My wife did mention that there was only one thing missing from the celebration and that was my sponsor. My sponsor has been an integral part of my recovery and pioneer in our little GA group having grown the fellowship over the years. My sponsor no longer resides in the area and is doing his great things in Colorado. He along with another dear friend in the program are growing that area incredibly. I will always remember the emphatic look on my sponsor’s face when I entered that room for the first time. My sponsor shared a similar path and I saw firsthand that there was another side and through the program life does indeed get better. I am so blessed and grateful for my sponsor and for the fellowship. I did miss the fact that my sponsor wasn’t in attendance but I knew that my sponsor was right there next to me spiritually and this is always the case.

This morning I decided to take the day off especially after having run 18 miles yesterday. I wanted to alter my running program this week and I am going with the less is more theory. I do need two days off per week from running and having done my long run on Sunday instead of Saturday I needed to devise a better plan of attack. There is a certain number of miles I would like to run each week and I will accomplish taking today off. It was good sleeping a bit later than normal and seeing the family awake as I left the house.

I headed off to work to start the work week. I have to admit this is probably one of the more if not the most interesting position I have ever held. There is truly never a dull moment and to say that I am fortunate to be in this position at this particular point in my life would be a huge understatement. I have worked for multi-national corporations most of my career and in the past year I have gotten a flavor for building a business. Of course my first foray was a lesson in what “not” to do but this current edition is something very different. These are very good intelligent people who maybe a bit ADD but the objective is clear which is to build something very profitable. Hopefully I can add some value to the company and help in any way I can. I do enjoy what I am doing and coming into the office each day does make me feel great. It has been one year since I came back to the free world and I am loving each and every day as I attempt to my best one day at a time.