:thumbsup: I do the same thing man, especially when trying to talk to kids about the dangers of alcohol and addiction. When your talk reaches the levels that you're preaching, you lose the message because it turns people off. So humor is a great attention getter. I have tons of embarassing stories that involve me and alcohol or drugs. I don's mind people laughing at my expense if I can also subtly get my point across. You're right, we have to be careful that the war stories don't reach the level of bragging. I think it naturally just happens sometimes.
March 21, 2009
Procrastination
I wanted to rest on my laurels after my first attempt at making amends.
I was relieved, and thought my task was finished.
I was tempted to skip the more humiliating meetings that still remained,
and to find plausible excuses for dodging certain issues.
I wanted to procrastinate, telling myself the time is not yet,
but I was really passing up many good chances to right serious wrongs.
In AA, I've learned not to talk prudence while practicing evasion.
Thought to Ponder....
Procrastination is really sloth in five syllables.
I can identify with this real well. I'm one of the best procrastinators I know, I'm very good at it. When I tell people this they act surprised. They say: That's not possible, you're always running around, you never sit still, so much energy, getting things done, how could YOU be a procrastinator?? :huh:
The answer is I do what I HAVE to get done, I've always been very responsible and self-reliant. I push like a maniac to make deadlines, even when they're self-imposed.
When it somes to doing what I NEED to do for my sobriety, I'm a slacker. I'm a procrastinator.
I work the steps as I know them, I've been doing this s long time, so it's pretty easy to remember. However, I backslide a lot by not working on my personal growth and spirituality. I convince myself that I'm too busy doing work, or I can't make that meeting tonight because I'm shot. And I am shot sometimes, sometimes I'm so tired that I literally to go to bed on the floor at 8pm, or pull my truck over in a parking lot somewhere to sleep for a few hours.
I know that this thread helps others, but it also keeps me in contact with the principles & traditions, and I feel it helps me have a better sober outlook. For a long time I stopped going to meetings because I have quite a few years clean, and convinced myself that I could skip them.
So I started trying to make a committment to go Friday nights, I figured I could at least make it once a week. I was doing ok on that for awhile, but I let work and other responsibilities get in the way, I've been slacking off there too.
I've been around this program long enough to know better. A lot of people say to me: Rich you have so many years, good for you, seems like you're finally cured and have that monkey off your back.
The second I start buying into that, I'm dead, or will be soon. I have seen too many people long-time program members go back out and end up dead, or almost. I don't want that complacent attitude to get me as well, so I know I have to try harder. When I cut corners, I also shortchange my family and loved ones because my attitude isn't so great. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...cons/icon9.gif
If I can try my best in work and other things, there's no excuse for me not to try harder to keep what I have been given. Sobriety is a gift, not necessarily a "right" if you are an an alcoholic, because it's about the choices we make.
Man that was long-winded! ;) Don't know if I helped anyone else by writing that, but just for today, I helped me. :thumbsup: