Service Keeps You Sober

I’ve heard thephrase ‘service keeps you sober’ countless times since I’ve started my recovery. I brushed it off as putting good energy into the universe and it will comeback to you. I didn’t pay much attention to it and figured that my involvementin Stonewall and the occasional volunteering I did was good enough.

Last week was toughfor me – I was busy, stressed out, and wasn’t keeping myself spiritually fit.This culminated in an intense craving during a board meeting. We were talkingabout a Corona sponsorship received by Stonewall Sports International and how thiswould effect us in Charlotte and I could suddenly taste the Corona. Thisfreaked me out – while I have had cravings before, nothing was ever as strongas this. After I left my board meeting, I got into any argument with a friendand really wanted to drown my sorrows in a glass of wine. However, I did what Ihad been told to do: called my sponsor and found the nearest meeting. Once again I heard those words, we believe service keeps you sober.

When the weekendcame around, I was feeling a little better, but still not 100%. I had forgottenuntil late Friday evening that I had agreed to help a friend move. I would havemuch rather gone out and stayed up until 6am, however this commitment kept me staying in. Looking back now, this commitment literally kept me sober. Ienjoyed helping my friend move and was in a better place spiritually than I hadstarted the day at.

Sunday morning, Ihad plans to meet my friends for church and was awoken by a message saying thata sub was needed in Greenhouse (Children’s Church) because someone’s kid had afever. At first, I ignored the message because I did not want to give up my plans.Eventually after no one responded, I gave in and said I would help.

I arrived at themeeting place and we were locked out. Normally something like this would sendme over the edge and compounded my bad mood. However, I was not effected bythis and was in a good mood. Reflecting back on this, I realized I was in asignificantly better place than I had been all week. The only thing I diddifferently was to serve others.