My daily program (what I do daily to keep sober)

 Every morning I wake up to the sounds of birds chirping. The sun is usually half risen. I use the bathroom and open the shades on my way back to bed. This way, I enjoy a little snooze but the natural sunlight steals my eyes' urge to close pretty quickly. I find this is the only way to force my eyes to embrace the day ahead and it actually feels really good. If I don't open the shades, my eyes will want to keep sleeping.

Right around this time, I start to meditate, which is to say: I actively use my thoughts to get closer to my higher power (Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out - Step 11).

Getting closer to my Higher Power these days means reminding myself of what my Higher Power is. That is to say, a power greater than myself which helps guide my decision making. These days, my Higher Power is shutting my mouth (pausing when doubtful or agitated). I believe in God and Jesus. In fact, Jesus saved my life and guided me to AA. So, I ask myself after I've paused: What would Jesus do? In most cases, the answer is to walk away, forgive, seek more peaceful surroundings.

I inevitably have fearful thoughts every morning, so as I meditate I actively steer my thoughts away from any to-do lists, fears, anxieties, fault-findings of myself or others, etc.

I don't need a guided meditation or any Buddhist BS to get closer to God these days, thank God.

After I meditate, which usually takes about a minute, I pray.

I thank God for another chance to stay sober for 24 hours.

I thank God for the life and path He has chosen for me.

I might say the Third Step Prayer or the Serenity Prayer if I have trouble finding peace in this moment and simply repeat those prayers in my head until the fears go away.

I usually pray in bed, but sometimes I do get out of bed and on my knees with my elbows leaning on my mattress. Most times I just pray in bed though, as my eyes continue to wake up.

Usually by the time I'm done praying my eyes are ready to start the day and my brain is ready to start processing things I cannot control.

This is the first time of the day I will look at my phone.

I even have a mechanical clock in my bathroom so I don't have to look at my phone to know what time it is when I wake up to pee in the morning.

The first thing I look at in my phone is usually stock market futures.

Then I check my texts. If I am lucky, I have a couple gratitude lists from fellows there waiting to be read. I LOVE getting these lists every day. If I have just one gratitude list in my inbox, I will read that as I walk to my coffee maker. Anything to keep me distracted from checking Twitter before my first cup of caffeine.

What's great about lists is that I will only get them if I send them, so the next thing I do is write my own gratitude list. No matter how good or bad my life is going in that moment, I ALWAYS write a gratitude list. The only time I don't is when I am with my immediate family.

Gratitude lists is also a tool I use to stay connected to my sponsor. He inspires me to write my lists and we exchange them every day. We write long lists which helps us stay connected even more which is great. He is a busy guy always traveling and has a family and kids.

I work from home so after I write my gratitude list I usually log into work and start making cold calls. I am in sales (not the easiest job for sober folks). In fact, I do not recommend it for anyone. But alas, this is my path and currently my only choice, so I make it work.

I work until about noon or 1PM. Then I usually get some food. I don't keep any food at home because I am an overeater, so this is the first time I leave the house. In the car, I will call another alcoholic to stay out of my thoughts. I call until I connect with one. I leave voicemails if people don't pick up. This generates call backs for me for other days when I desperately need to connect.

I leave VMs until I get to my destination, run out of energy to talk or someone actually picks up. 

The best is when someone picks up. We catch up and usually end up laughing about something. By the time the call is over, I am feeling really good.

Then I compound that good feeling with my first meal of the day.

Then I drive home and work until about 5PM.

Sometimes I don't eat lunch and instead opt for a bike ride or a nap.

Regardless of what I do for lunch, I ALWAYS go to a meeting at night.

Usually I am too tired to fellowship after the meeting.

I grab some dinner and head home to wind down.

I get to bed by 10PM so I can doomscroll till my bedtime, 11PM.

I fall asleep to podcasts or audiobooks every night.

Right now I am single and actively staying single.

It is boring but peaceful.

When I close my eyes, without fail my first thought is always: Thank you, God, for keeping me sober today.

And that's how I stay sober every day these days.

It wasn't always this easy.

But I promise if you were desperate like me, it will be this easy for you one day.

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