Coon's Supper- Blytheville AR

Had an interesting weekend in Blythesville, Arkansa

We went to the Coon's Supper AA conference in Blythesville. It was a very long drive there from our home, but it was very interesting.
Our booth at this conference was in the front of the building, which, by the way was a run down bar which was being converted for this conference, because the Holiday Inn had burned down 2 weeks prior. Yes, I said it. Run down Bar, converted into a conference hall. And who said you can't have an AA meeting in a bar! The irony.

But i realized something, for the first time in a long time, I noticed my reaction to alcohol was non existent. I was reliving the 10th step promises that the obsession would be removed, and I didn't think once about alcohol. Now, I've had numerous days like this before, but none where the bottles and symbols of the disease were surrounding me. I mean seriously, there is a giant picture of the Budlite bottle next to my vendor booth. Wow, what a miracle.

I met a gentleman with 54 years of sobriety, and I met a woman with not quite 24 hours of sobriety. The difference between the two ------ many, the similarity between the two, even more.

The solution for both...... AA ---- and a connection to A Higher Power of their understanding, that solves ALL their problems today......

Ah heart troubles

Ok - so really not my heart, but Wednesday the doctors and myself thought I was having heart problems.

I have a bad thought process which believes I am a doctor on t.v and real life. When actually I am neither but yet continue to try to self diagnosis my problems. The chest pain I was experiencing was not fun, nor was it my heart. Thank goodness.

Stress plays a major role and my crohn's disease does as well. The doctors don't really know what was wrong, but my heart is in good shap, and my lungs as well.

My heart troubles me however at my home group, my friends, and my relationships with my daughter. All smack dab in the middle of this is I - Me - Yes, selfish me.

I miss my group. I miss the laughter and fun before the meeting, but I really miss the meeting itself. it has become divisive and people are no longer the family I grew to know and love.

Then I was reminded by Mary Christine's post yesterday, all we need to stay sober is to TRUST in God and Clean House. Wow... perhaps this is God's plan, and I am doing what I normally do, I fight change instead of be grateful the change is happening.

I don't know really what the whole point is. but this too shall pass.... and in the mean time, I am going to give it to my higher power to handle.

We are Not Saints Conference

Hello from the We are Not Saints conference. My partner and I own a gift business for the the 12 step community and we travel all over the midwest attending different conferences. This weekend was the first of the next 11 months of conferences. Which are very rewarding, but extremely exhausting. We are trying to learn the balance between working and sleeping.
It is exhausting but wow, do we meet the people. I had a lot of fun helping 2 gentlemen pick out their one year fancy coin and necklace. These two gentlemen were maybe 21 years old! How fantastic. The smiles on their faces was priceless.

Must get back to resting. .... .happy sunday

P.S-- got to hear Clancy speak last night ! it was great!

Full week of the year

The first full work week of the year. Last week, I was hard pressed for motivation to be at the office, and then had a run in with a customer who has got to be the most difficult person I have had to deal with in my career of technical customer service. I have a good career, infact a fantastic job which absolutely meets my personality, and for a split second I was ready to walk away from all of it. Simply walk away, drop off the key card and call it a day and go home. I was over it. I simply was beaten down enough for the very last time. But you know what happened?
I stopped, I prayed, I muted the phone, and I ---- yes I---- apologized to this customer just because my tone was so harsh. The conversation wasn't really any better, but I felt better.

She proceeded to write the ceo and blast me, but hey, that's ok, the outcome really isn't mine anyway. On the flip side, i got to do something good for a sweet lady in Florida who is changing computer systems, lost her husband, last year, daughter walked out on her during christmas, and who has supported my career for 7 years! So, I put someone on a plane and sent her a technical expert on behalf of the company I work for. So, I might get yelled at from customers who have no earthly clue what human kindness is, but I can give it back 100% to people who are living it one day at a time in gratitude.

I like the gratitude much better.

My daughter is home today, after a long vacation with Grandma. My partner, daughter and I went grocery shopping, We all agreeed and haven't fought yet today. God provides so long as I don't direct the show.


Happily trudging.....

:o)