November 27

From yesterday's trail run.

Yesterday I registered for a Olympic distance triathlon.  I talked one of my friends into registering for it too.  I am very excited about this.  It is challenging, but won't kill me like marathon training.  I only have to train to swim one mile, bike 25 miles, and run a 10K (6.2 miles).  Fun!  I am going to get on my bike this afternoon for only the second time in this calendar year.  I have become so afraid of biking after 2 accidents.  But I will get on and do my best not to let fear control me.

I went to a meeting this morning where I saw many nice people I like a lot.  It is nice when that happens.  But regardless if it happens or not, I need to go to meetings.  Because AA meetings are not really a social event, although it sometimes seems like they are.

Someone came by last night and left one of those "turds on the front lawn" kind of comments.  He told me that my behavior was so bad that "there are plenty of bars that will have you."  And "if you don't like what I have to say, tough.  Go whine about it."  Well, it's my blog and I just delete bullshit like that.  If you don't like it, go talk to your sponsor about it.

I think this is a classic example of the "tough" without the "love."

And furthermore, why would you argue with someone's experience?  It was my experience I was talking about - not my opinion.  My experience.

My experience in AA has not been a straight line - and I will be the first to tell anyone that.  I will also be quick to add that I have been sober since the day I hit the doors - on July 24, 1984.  My point is usually that it is not up to me and my glorious WORK.   It is by the Grace of God that I am sober.  I believe the Grace of God is available to anyone who asks and has faith.   There was some amount of cooperation required on my part and I did that to the best of my ability.  In the beginning, I didn't have much ability, but I still did my best.  Later my ability grew.

Let's try not to be judgmental asshats, OK?

We are all in the same lifeboat, let's try to get along.

Speaking of lifeboats, I am reading a book that I am finding riveting!  It is called "Unbroken," and it is about an incredible man who found himself in a plane wreck in the Pacific in WWII - and then became a Prisoner of War.  If you want to get really grateful really quick, try reading that book.

Have a beautiful sober day today.  Remember we are all doing our best, and sometimes it isn't very good.  But we can learn how to live, one day at a time, sober - by the Grace of God.