I was a helpless abuser of substances for a while, then I hit bottom, then I bounced.

All substance abusers have bottoms. It’s where we are at the moment we begin to recover. Some of us fall lower and hit harder than others—one person’s bottom is another person’s roof. I think and talk about mine so I won’t ever forget I was there, because I’m only as clean and sober as I am honest.

I’ve been in recovery for almost two decades; a person of faith for about the same length of time. I see my sobriety as a small miracle accomplished through God’s grace in partnership with my feet trudging through the Steps.

From my perspective a 12 Step Program is a liberating thinking and living process that’s founded on three fundamental truths—all of which were news to me when I got sober. These truths are:
* I am what I am;
* I am responsible for what I do, and other people never make me screw up;
* There is a Higher Power, and I’m not It.

The longer I’m sober, the simpler I see things. What I’d like you and I do with this blog is start a conversation about the spiritual side of sobriety—which I see as the driving force behind honesty, acceptance, tolerance, forgiveness, and a resilient sense of humor.

I guess I should mention I’ve written a book called How to Stop Screwing Up: Twelve Steps to a Real Life and a Pretty Good Time.

Next week, I plan on posting a few thoughts about God/a.k.a Alice. Unless I have a burning desire to talk about something else. How about you?