Letter From An Old-timer #116

The big world is finally catching up with AA. In a recent Reader's Digest there was an article on an "gratitude attitude." The author, David Hochman, decided to try being grateful instead of grousing for 30 days. He quoted authors and scientific studies that show that those who keep a gratitude journal for 10 weeks are 25% happier than those who don't. They have even found that even pretending (or as is better stated in our circles: "acting as if") produces chemicals related to pleasure and contentment, such as serotonin and dopamine. They found that even acting as if brings about the real thing in a few weeks time.

Hochman's list was similar to my first lists in ways. Coffee, naps, and other small, everyday mundane things showed up on paper. Then it took on a new twist. He began tracking down his old English teacher, and others who had made a large impact on his life in order to tell them how grateful he was for their influence. The rest of the article dealt with the people he'd crossed paths with over the years and the debt of gratitude he owed them.

His exercise began dealing with people far sooner than mine did. I was still grateful for my morning coffee, the washer ad drier in the house and sunrises for a few months, instead of surging ahead within a couple weeks to people. I admire him. His head is on far straighter than mine, but then I doubt if he is an alcoholic with those loony twists that happen within my head at times.

There are several people for whom I am very grateful. Several of them are also deceased. But I can talk to God about the later, and in person with the former. Just so I get busy doing it. Time has become very precious to me. (It seems to just run away like a spooked wild horse).

Material things still are on my list, especially after  watching the news. Yet, there is also a feeling of sadness that this great country is so spoiled with personal possessions that they look the other way at those who have less. They keep a neat distance from poor folks, lest it's catching.

AA is the truest and most equal organization I've ever come across. Race, religion, creed or mental state doesn't matter. All that is needed is a desire to get and stay sober and the acceptance of the whole worldwide fellowship is at one's disposal. Awesome.

So at the top of my list, after God, comes AA,because without it, there would be no family (or at least the family I have now) or job or home or friends.

That's the best way to start my Gratitude List each day...

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