Over this past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a meeting with a new sober friend who was celebrating his first year. It was a small meeting, and I’ll be honest, small meetings still scare me even after 18 years of sobriety. It’s just an initial scare, but then I say, well, small meetings mean I need to speak. Of course I speak in larger meetings, but I sometimes will raise my hand with twenty other people and I won’t get called on, for whatever reason. There’s no room to hide in a small meeting, that’s why they both scare and exhilarate me at the same time.
Anyhow, my friend had attended an alcohol and drug detox, and then he lived in a sober living situation for about 7 months. I met him just before he moved out of the sober living facility and into his new place with his girlfriend. At first he was shy, and when he asked how long I had and I replied, he looked a bit stunned. I laughed, but I remember what it was like when I was first coming around the halls of Alcoholics Anonymous. Everyone had so much more time under their belt and I wanted that. Now, mind you, I didn’t want to do the work, I just wanted that time. Makes absolutely no sense to me now, but it sure did back then. It was a matter of being envious of others, and also not being happy in the space and time in which I was living.
My new friend and I talked a bit more and he was truly working the program. His sobriety is strong, and he continues to amaze me in his humility. I could only dream to be so sincerely humble, but I guess I run my program my way, and he does his way. We are both sober and that’s all that matters.
On the morning of the meeting, I called him to confirm the location. He told me and then stated if I had other things to do then he’d understand. I told him I couldn’t think of nothing more I wanted to do then to be around him today. You see, although I am supporting him, I am also supporting myself. I want to remember what that feeling of 1 year is like. I want to be proud of him, and I want to show him that even after 18 years I am still a part of this fellowship.
So, although there is a great time difference between 1 year and 18 years, the difference between is not all that vast at all. He works his program, I work mine. We don’t drink or drug and we reach out to others for help, and also to help.
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BIO
Recovery Rob is a 47-year-old man who has more than eighteen years of sobriety, whose drugs of choice at one time were alcohol and drugs, and he has worked in and around the field of addiction for more than 20 years. Recovery Rob is a professional writer who has published two novels and is currently working on his third. He has been writing and working as Pat Moore Foundation’s premiere blogger and content writer, which helps keeps Pat Moore Foundation’s addiction and recovery blog top-rated.