A Vision For You

”Now and then a serious drinker, being dry at the moment says, “I don’t miss it at all. Feel better. Work better. Having a better time.” As ex-problem drinkers, we smile at such a sally. We know our friend is like a boy whistling in the dark to keep up his spirits. He fools himself. Inwardly he would give anything to take half a dozen drinks and get away with them. He will presently try the old game again, for he isn’t happy about his sobriety. He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine life either with alcohol or without it.Then he will know loneliness such as few do. He will be at the jumping –off place. He will wish for the end.”-pg. 152 from the chapter “a Vision For You” from the Big Book of Alcohol Anonymous

 

Most of us can relate to the idea of white knuckling it when it comes to our sobriety and receiving detox. Some of us need to “act as if” or “fake it until we make it” in order to stay sober in the beginning or even at times when we are dry. Through the help of AboveItAll, AA, or other forms addiction recovery we acquire the tools we need to stay sober long term. It’s okay that we are like the boy whistling in the dark as long as we stay sober through it and are able to turn things over and do the work. After all it is the hard times that show us we can stay sober through anything as long as we remain willing and dedicated to this way of living.