Reading today’s meditations, I had to think for a few moments about the condition I was in upon entering the door of AA. Even though there was a faint sense of hope, I was trapped by the idea of weakness, failure, and shame. Those feelings intensified as I continued to come to meetings, and I called my sponsor. It was the beginning of a lifelong practice of being honest with myself; letting go of the garbage and baggage accumulated along the way.
Yesterday morning, a friend talked about accumulating “garbage!” The difference in recovery and working the steps is we get to put our garbage on the curb and have it picked up and taken to the dump. In some areas, they pick it up twice a week!!
After countless calls and texts during the day, I received a call from my buddy Wilson in Seattle. Giving us a tour of his boat and the beautiful harbor, it dawned on me the opportunities that have come into my life as a result of taking out the garbage.
I went to Pinetop Brewing for a diet Coke and work on Ride the Waves. Sitting there, looking back, there always has been an unseen Force of Good in my life. As I continue to discover the Fear, pride & shame that block my sense of worth, I put it on the curb. It's been getting picked up now for 43 years!
Thank you, for showing me the way, and for the tools to uncover, discover and discard the garbage, the negative; that I may continue open to the Goodness and true purpose in life.