I don’t fear death. My death will come in its own time, eventually and inevitably. I fear all of the pain, suffering, sadness and loss that proceeds death, that I would experience, and even more so, the knowledge that I willingly inflicted this on people who love, care about, and depend on me.
But I am free from this fear, because I won’t drink. I am free indeed
very true, I don’t fear death now but whilst drinking I feared everything. TBH I probably feared life more than death when I look back hence the thoughts of I would be better off dead.
Now I can’t wait to see what life has got install for me. 
Gratitude is an action word. It’s not just a feeling.
I’m grateful for my sobriety so I continue to work my program.
I’m grateful for my job so I continue to work hard and improve.
I’m grateful for my apartment so I clean it.
I’m grateful for my relationships so I make the effort to keep them going.
Saying I’m grateful for anything without showing it is nothing more than a half measure.
Gratitude actions > gratitude lists
I’ve never heard that before. I absolutely love that quote. And also gratitude actions > gratitude lists. 
I really liked this post. Very wise. Thank you.
Very well said, Bootz. Gratitude is amazing at pulling me back to the present. Thank you!
Gratitude demands that we stand in the Present. I admire your command of the language.
Just remember y’all an apology without change is manipulation. An apology that takes 5 paragraphs to explain isn’t an apology, it’s a justification.
I will be honest and at first this post made me prickly, I felt like defending my gratitude everyday! Instead I put my phone down. I took some time to think about what you said and what I write about being grateful for. You are absolutely right. There is not a thing on my lists that I don’t work my damn ass off for daily. Nothing good in my life today comes without a boatload of effort on my part. But, if this is what my life will look like because of that I will gladly put the effort in. Thank you Derek for making me think and thank you 12 steps for gifting me with the “pause” so that I can think before I respond.
That was me. I think the insanity, as AA describes it, of drinking lead me to think that way.
What if you got a cold and you can’t take any action cos ya feeling like crap 
AA Grapevine quote of the day today:
“What matters is what works, not my opinion of what works.”
“Trusting the Silence,” November 1991, Beginner’s Book: Getting and Staying Sober in AA
Okay guys, need some help… Question from green and gold…step 4. Never had to put this in words before so please help with advice…
“What values and principles are important to me?”.
What does it mean ‘value’ and ‘principle’ ?
Thank you in advance 
When I think of values, I think of attributes that make a person a decent human being. Things like honesty, fairness, charity, humility, integrity, compassion, empathy, kindness, generosity, etc.
When I think of principles, I think of rules or moral codes that one abides by that supports being a decent human, like don’t steal, no relations before marriage, always help when asked for help, serve others before self. Things like that.
Don’t know if it helps at all, but its interesting to think about my own values and moral code. Thanks!
I totally get that. Passing on useful advice to help stop others going through the same nightmare. Problem is, if they are anything like me, they have to find out the long and hard way and then later come back and say “ahhhh X was right, now I know for sure” 
just gotta hope and pray they make it back in 1 piece to be able to make the changes needed 
My sponsor told me to look up words like that in the dictionary. I like @HoofHearted’s take that values are attitudes or attributes and principles are the actions we take or avoid to achieve the values.
Needed this reminder today. Thank you.
Even when you truly believe yourself - your opinion - your belief - to be right - you might be wrong. Sometimes, we have to be quiet and just listen. It’s when we listen that we learn.
We’re allowed to believe something fully and wholeheartedly and, then, change our minds. It is okay to be wrong. We can admit it, if we’re being brave and honest. Let go. We tend to dig our heals in, and then dig even further, for fear of embarrassment…or pride. But the real good feels come when we let go, be vulnerable and follow the truth deeper within 
when we listen, admit our errors or misconceptions and move forward.
beautiful words
