I’m Counting My Blessings

Audio Version 

Two weeks into ‘lockdown’ I celebrated 27 years of sobriety. How grateful I am,

looking back, that when I came through the doors 27 years ago, there was a cup of

tea, a handshake, and a hug. I pray for alcoholics trying to deal with this illness and

pray that they get help today. As I count my blessings, I add that to my gratitude list.

When I got sober, particularly in the early days, I lived in the Just for Today card. It

made so much sense to me and helped me build structure into my day when my

head was still racing. In these uncertain times when it would be so easy to give in to

anxiety, what a help it’s been to me again, giving me structure and focus for each

precious day. I’ve said to a few folk recently while in ‘nickel therapy‘ “Dig out your

Just for Today card or look it up online” because it feels to me that it was written for just such a time as this.

My gratitude for AA and the life it has given me knows no bounds. Yes, of course I

miss my wee grandson. My arms just ache to hug

him but I’m choosing to focus on the blessings of

technology which allow me to send and receive

videos and enjoy ‘face to face’ time. I'm enjoying

my daily walk in my neighbourhood, passing some

time at a safe distance with neighbours. I’m

thankful for the cleaner smell of the air as I take my

walk, for the glorious display of daffodils on the

central reservation on the main road nearby and

I’m indebted to my group members who are

supporting me and each other at our wee online closed group meetings.

As I write this, there’s an illness called Covid 19 ‘out there doing press-ups’ and it

seems our only defence against it is to stay indoors. We alcoholics live, on a daily

basis, with a potentially fatal illness called alcoholism. Thankfully, we have many

ways to treat it. We have each other, our Fellowship, our Programme, our Higher

Power, our Big Book - including the page on acceptance, our Just for Today Card, our

Serenity Prayer, our online meetings and of course our Roundabout, which we can

find online too. I have so much at my disposal to help me protect my sobriety. I need

only lift these tools and be grateful for what I have. So as the Just for Today card

concludes, ‘Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to enjoy

what is beautiful and to believe that as I give to the world the world will give to me.’

Anne B

Knightswood Tuesday