Latest / Sober Readings / Daily Inventory
Transcript
- Scott Hayes: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to Sober Readings. My name is Scott. I am glad you're here with me on this Thursday, the 8th of October. Let's get started today with the Serenity Prayer. God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference. Today's reading from Daily Reflections is titled Daily Inventory. And before I read it, I will say that yesterday's daily reflections began with the first half of the tenth step, and today's daily reflection begins with the second half of the tenth step, which is, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. And that's on page fifty-nine of the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous. I was beginning to approach my new life of sobriety with unaccustomed enthusiasm. I'll jump down a little bit. Life was exciting and I even began to enjoy my work, becoming so bold as to issue a report on the lack of proper care for some of our clients. It goes on to say, my boss was really sore because a complaint submitted over his head had caused him much discomfort at the hands of his superiors. When I approached my boss and owned up to my hand in his difficulties, he was surprised. But unexpected things came out of our encounter and And my boss and I were able to agree to interact more directly and effectively in the future. And so this reading is obviously on the tenth step, which is the daily inventory. Taking a daily inventory is one of the simplest but most important things I can do for my sobriety. It gives me an opportunity to look back at my day and ask myself some honest questions. Was I selfish? Was I dishonest? Did I let fear, resentment, or pride influence my actions? Did I treat people the way I want to be treated? And perhaps most importantly, when I was wrong, did I promptly admit it? That last part isn't always easy, especially when my ego wants to convince me that I was justified in what I said or did. But I've learned that admitting I'm wrong isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of growth. The longer I allow a mistake to go unaddressed, the more opportunity I give resentment, guilt, and shame to take hold. And those are things I can't afford to carry around in sobriety. The goal of a daily inventory isn't to beat myself up over my shortcomings or to convince myself that I need to be perfect. It's about recognizing where I fell short, taking responsibility, making things right when I can, and trying to do a little better tomorrow. Progress, not perfection. Because staying sober isn't just not picking up a drink. It's about becoming someone who no longer needs to escape from From the life he's living. Today's reading from twenty four hours a day for october eighth, the AA thought for the day. There is such a thing as being too loyal to any one group. Do I feel put out when another group starts and some members of my group leave it and branch out into new territory? Do I visit that new offshoot group and help it along? AA grows by the starting of new groups all the time. And the question for this AA Thought for the Day section, am I always ready to help new groups? In today's Meditation for the Day, it talks about prayer. Pray and keep praying until it brings peace and serenity and a feeling of communion with one who is near and ready to help. In praying to God, we find healing for hurt feelings and resentments. And with God, we can have the tolerance to live. And let live. And today's prayer for the day asks me to pray to have true tolerance and understanding. And so this reading from Twenty Four Hours a Day reminds me that Alcoholics Anonymous is much bigger than any one meeting or any one group or any one of us. Sometimes we get so comfortable with our home group that we start to think of it as our meeting. And when people leave to join another group or start something new. We might take it personally. But that's our ego getting in the way of what AA is really about. The purpose of the fellowship isn't to build the biggest group or to have the most people sitting in our meeting. It's to carry the message to alcoholics who still suffer. And if starting another meeting means that message reaches one more person, then that's something we should celebrate, not resent. I've learned that recovery requires me to get outside of myself. To stop worrying so much about what I want and to focus on how I can be useful to others. The reading also reminds me of the importance of tolerance, understanding, and prayer. I don't have to agree with everyone, and everyone doesn't have to do things my way. The message is more important than the messenger, and the fellowship is bigger than any one group. When I remember that, I'm practicing the humility and acceptance that helps keep me sober. One day at a time. And for today's final reading, let's go to As Bill Sees It, page twenty nine. Gratitude should go forward. And the second section of this reading says No satisfaction has been deeper and no joy greater than in a twelfth step job well done, to watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, and above all to watch them awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives. And these are the things that we receive as we carry the AA message. And that's from the 12 and 12 page 110. And what I take away from this is one of the greatest gifts I've received in sobriety is the opportunity to help another alcoholic. There's a kind of satisfaction that comes from helping someone else that I can't find anywhere else. And for me, there's nothing like watching a newcomer begin to change. I've seen people walk into the rooms of AA completely broken, confused, angry, and hopeless. not knowing how they're going to get through the next twenty four hours. But then, little by little, something starts to happen. They begin to open up, they start sharing honestly, and that fog they've been living in begins to lift. You can almost see the clarity returning to their eyes. And perhaps the most beautiful part is watching them begin to recognize the presence of a higher power in their lives. Sometimes for the very first time. They start to realize that maybe they aren't alone after all. That there's something greater than themselves helping them find their way. And when I get to witness that transformation, I'm reminded of why this program works and why carrying the message is so important. Because not too long ago, I was that person sitting in a chair, wondering if life could ever get better. Someone took the time to help me, and now I have the privilege of doing the same for someone else. The beautiful thing about helping another alcoholic is that while I may be helping them find their way, they're also helping me remember mine. And so that's all for today's episode of Sober Readings. Thank you so much for listening. I hope something you heard today helps you along your journey. And if you'd like to be a guest on Sober Readings and share your experience, strength, and hope, your take on today's readings, or read and share on a topic of your choosing, there's a link in the show notes below to send me an email. You'll also find a link in the show notes to my website where you can learn more about sober readings and stay connected. Also, if you'd like to drop a dollar in the donation basket for today's readings, just go to the support page on the website and click the button that says drop a dollar in the basket. So if you enjoyed today's episode and want to support Sober Readings, please subscribe to the podcast and give this episode a like. And if there's something you heard today and makes you think of someone, share this episode with them because you never know. Who needs to hear these words? So thanks for spending a few minutes of your day with me. Be good to yourselves, be good to others, and remember, we only have to do this one day at a time. So just for today, don't drink, go to a meeting, and keep coming back. Have a great day, everyone. And as my friend Larry says, best day ever.