Quality not Quantity

[Carol87]

"A.A. Thought for the Day
The length of time of our sobriety is not as important as its quality. A person who has been in A.A. for a number of years may not be in as good mental condition as a person who has only been in a few months. It is a great satisfaction to have been an A.A. member for a long time and we often mention it. It may sometimes help the newer members, because they may say to themselves, "If they can do it, I can do it." And yet the older members must realize that as long as they live, they are only one drink away from a drunk. What is the quality of my sobriety?
Excerpt Twenty-Four Hours a Day, December 8"

What is the quality of my sobriety? I relate to this reading … … although I had quantity, I didn’t have quality sobriety until I had been in AA for quite a long time. In my case, it was a case of getting out of denial, and as a local AA member puts it … got OFF the bubble and got IN the bubble .. also known as WORKING the program. I have a wallet card that sums it up:

Thoroughly Follow The Path
Don’t Drink
Go To Meetings
Get A Sponsor
Read The Big Book
Work All 12 Steps – In Order

And I add find a Higher Power and Pray ...

[teri102271]

I appreciate reading your words and thoughts. It is great to know that quality is the number two thing, behind finding ones Higher Power. I am new in the program, and very thankful that I have found the program. I am enduring some trying times with the Legal system, and looking at jail time of some sort. I am a great person, with wonderful attributes, but the one attribute, wine got too much in the way. Needless to say, I am happy that I am not drinking, but scared and fearful at the same time, because of not knowing what is happening with my arrest/accident. I enjoy reading these posts, and attending meetings in my area. My sponsor has been great with taking me in with fellowship, and showing me that life is about today. I also have found the same with my church. The pastors at my church have been wonderful with providing prayer, hugs, and precious thoughts that encourage me to continue each day with the program and taking it a day at a time. My biggest fear is telling my family, and children what has happened, because I feel like a failure. I hope that is the anxiety, because I know that I am not a failure, and I am a great mom, with two wonderful children and a husband (he knows) that is great to me and our children. I pray to God and I ask those that also may read this to pray for me during this time.

[janbear]

Hi teri, nice to meet you and my prayers are with you in this trying time for you.

I have just recently asked someone in N.A. if i could talk to them. We are trying to get together now i am wanting to ask them to sponsor me. They have less time than i have but the quality of their clean time is so much better than mine, they definitely have something i want to be like. So i feel also the quality of a persons time is so much more important than quantity
I was just journaling this morning how we are all just one drink/drug away no matter how much time we have.