LET IT BEGIN WITH ME

By Kathy L

About a week ago I received an email from a reader that I didn't understand.  He said the topic was "Let It Begin With Me" and could I help.  Since I knew it was a legitimate email, I wrote back telling him that I would love to help but with what?  It turns out that this gentleman is a Regional GSO for AA in India (BellaOnline is global) and that the topic for a convention is "Let It Begin With Me".   There is also a plan to have very special guests at this convention so I believe he wanted as many ideas for the topic as possible.

I thought about this theme he presented me with and from this came my writing for this week.  When I emailed K.S. (his initials since I did not ask permission to use his name), he responded with a few ideas of his own which I will also incorporate at the end of this article.

When we first enter the rooms of AA, we must rely on others.  We know we can't get sober or stay sober by ourselves.  If we are serious about recovery, we will listen to every word of advice given to us and will do everything and anything we are told.  For the first time in our lives we learn that it isn't all about us and we need the love, care and guidance from others.  We have had to find a Higher Power.  For some, this is a simple task; for others, it may take a long time.  And so even if we have a difficult time believing in a Higher Power, our human brothers and sisters see us through until we are able.

But there are two ways to look at "let it begin with me".  The first is accepting Step One.   We can pretend we are serious about our recovery but if we can't accept the first Step, we will not be able to stay sober no matter how we try and no matter how we pray.  So in that respect, the real desire to stop drinking or drugging has to begin with me.  No one in the world can make me get sober or stay sober, including a Higher Power, unless we can honestly and perfectly work Step One.  It begins with me.

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