| The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (3rd edition, | | | | It was such hard work in the early months of recovery |
| p.83-84) promises a new life filled with hope, freedom | | | | when I lived in daily fear of relapsing to the dreaded |
| and happiness. Promise one is the first in a series of 12 | | | | disease. I feared every knock on my door and every |
| articles that examines and reflects upon the rewards | | | | phone call. It had to be the police or my lawyer telling |
| of recovery. After all, if you go through the painstaking | | | | me I was in big trouble again. I was told to go to |
| process of recovering from alcoholism, you need to | | | | meetings on a daily basis and get involved in a step |
| have a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you | | | | group. |
| truly put your heart and soul into the steps outlined in | | | | I quickly began to realize that my problems with alcohol |
| the Big Book, it is absolutely possible for you to enjoy | | | | were shared by my whole step group. They were or |
| the promises of recovery. | | | | had been just as frightened and paranoid as I was. I |
| The 1st Promise of Recovery from alcoholism states | | | | trusted the group and they trusted me. Could it be |
| that "we are going to know a new freedom and a | | | | possible to stay sober one day at a time? I was still |
| new happiness." | | | | not sure that I could do it but I felt a flicker of hope at |
| What exactly does that mean? | | | | each meeting I attended. I could see it in "their" eyes |
| Is it waking up without a hangover? | | | | and I could feel it in my heart. I was committed to |
| Is it remembering everything you did the night before? | | | | staying sober even if it was going to be a long, winding |
| Is it being excited about the challenges of your | | | | and incredibly bumpy road. |
| upcoming day? | | | | As I was reflecting upon the past year I was very |
| Is it cherishing the relationships with your family and | | | | grateful for the tremendous support I had received |
| friends? | | | | from my family, friends and new girlfriend. I did not |
| It is all of the above and much more! | | | | exactly know what had happened, but here was |
| Donny, a friend of mine, related the following story at | | | | something different about me. I was happy and I had a |
| his AA home group which clearly illustrates the | | | | strange sensation of lightness and freedom. Oh my |
| promise of a new freedom and a new happiness. | | | | gosh, one of the promises had just come true. I |
| "I was standing at my favorite viewpoint a few hours | | | | dropped to my knees and with tears in my eyes I |
| before the big meeting of celebration. I had actually | | | | thanked my higher power. There was a new freedom |
| gone a whole year without taking a drink! This is so | | | | and a new happiness in my life!" |
| cool! | | | | Donny's heartwarming story illustrates that it is entirely |
| The sun was shining brightly over the vast expanse of | | | | possible for us to "know a new freedom and a new |
| the Pacific Ocean and the majestic beauty of the | | | | happiness." |
| snow capped mountains on the horizon. I felt calm, | | | | Thousands of AA members have related similar |
| serene and most importantly I could breathe. I no longer | | | | experiences after they embraced the steps |
| had the tight chest, nausea and anxiety that consumed | | | | suggested in the AA program. |
| me on a daily basis. Life was no longer an out of | | | | If you are struggling in your recovery, remember that |
| control, chaotic and painful experience. I was living in | | | | "the Promises are being fulfilled among us-- sometimes |
| the moment and embracing every sweet breath | | | | quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize |
| flowing in and out of my body. I felt connected to my | | | | if we work for them. |
| higher power, nature, and my fellow man. | | | | |