Quote of the Week
"If you are bored in the program, then you’re boring."
I remember when I entered the program, I thought my life was over. No more parties, nightclubs, or wild, fun times. And worse, I was condemned to meetings where there were cliques of people who knew each other; I felt like I was back in high school. Sure, some people reached out to me, but I mostly wanted to isolate and keep to my secrets. And that’s when I told my sponsor how boring the program was.
I’ll never forget how patiently she listed to me. Once I was done, or had started repeating myself for the third time, she asked me some questions. “Are you asking to join people after the meetings for coffee or a meal?” No. “Are you offering to help set up or clean up after?” No. “Are you going to any of the picnics, roundups, dances, and parties that are offered?” No. “Then no wonder you’re bored. You’re boring!”
My sponsor explained that alcoholism is a disease that wants to keep us isolated so that it can kill us. She told me that people in the program insist on having fun, and as a group we’re not a glum lot. Just look at the laughter and friendships you see. But you have to take contrary action and join in if you want to be a part of. And deep down, I did. So I did get active. And what I found to be true in the program is also true in life: You get out of it what you put in to it. Today, I’m too active to be bored, and because of that, I get to live a life that is happy, joyous, and free.