I always feared that life would be absolutely boring if I stopped drinking, hence the proposition of total abstinence never appealed to me. But now it’s a totally different story!
In sobriety my life didn’t become free of adverse situations, but I believe I got the strength to deal with the issues constructively and on time; rather than running away from them.
My father gave me the message of AA by getting me a Big Book in 1998, after I had been jailed for a month. I had previously quit heroin on my own steam using willpower, so didn’t think that I would have difficulty being able to quit drinking. Countless incarcerations, arrests, blackouts, accidents ensued. I continued drinking till being brought to my first meeting in 2005. When I got to meetings, I looked for all the differences and not the similarities, till I realized that mountains of debt and the notoriety of being a hopeless drunk, brought me to rock bottom.
When I sobered up, I threw myself into business and by God’s grace, flourished, amassed tons of money. This went to my head, till I lost nearly all of it in the Real Estate crash in the middle east. This cycle of making pots of money and losing it all was to repeat thrice in my life. Soon I started to work the steps, and developed deep faith, leading to the removal of the Fear of Economic Insecurity. I recall that I earlier lived in this fear all along, even when I was doing very well financially. I got married and divorced in Sobriety, again God helped me to stay away from a drink.
I eventually realized that real happiness lies not in fulfilling selfish dreams but in freely giving away what I had. I started living my amends with my parents and sister, taking care of them in every way. To date I spend a lot of time with my Mother.
I also got into service in the fellowship plus I do a lot of Service in AA at all levels, group, home group, Intergroup, Region, Conference, World Service. I am blessed to have served the International Convention as the Flag Bearer and Speaker.
I got involved with AA History and was blessed at the opportunity to visit all the AA Historical Sites.
I have always been fond of travelling and in Sobriety I am able to pursue my dream to travel. I have travelled to 100+ Countries, made meetings in most of these countries, been invited to speak in many.
Step work with my sponsor and sponsees, and bucketloads of service, keeps me in active recovery. I’m an avid trekker and cyclist. I party hard and partake of the nightlife in my city. I’m always available when any alcoholic reaches out for help. I am truly Happy, Joyous and Free.