Although I am not making plans I am thinking of the future. My work in the USA is not as crucial as it was and this fall I am seeing a real possibility of moving here to Greece for a short time, maybe a year. A full year on the island will show me what I need to do. I am lucky that I have an ‘in’ with some of the locals via the AA network. This is a gift of sobriety, as I see it, as long as I do not abuse the connection.
The meeting this week was good in at least two ways. The first is the obvious: a meeting. The second is that I was able to learn both ho to live and how not to live soberly here on a small island. I can leave the old resentments behind and dispel the angers that others have. Thank God I am working my program and not that of someone else. I m alright if I stick to my program.
I have been reading Marcus Aurelius’ ‘Meditations’. It is amazing what the old Emperor had to say about how to live in a world of chaos. For him the best that one could do was to shoulder the load of a day’ work with honesty, dignity and a sense that this is only for today. Sound familiar? It wouldn’t surprise me if somewhere along the live Bill W, Bob or their predecessors in other programs had read ‘Meditations’ and gleaned some solid common sense form the words of a philosopher who was stuck with the job of ruler of the known world-and I thought I had tough situations!
I have now been to meetings in Italy-Florence and Rome. My scope i widening and as it does it is reassuring to hear the same stories in the room wherever I go. I am not unique, not hopeless and not alone.
Johnnyboy
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