I’m very fortunate to be sponsoring 5 alcoholics. Unfortunately, two of them relapsed. My initial thought was what am I doing wrong? Pretty selfish of me? Correct! Their relapse isn’t about me. So what do we do now? Well, I talked with my sponsor and a couple other people in the program who have a good working knowledge of the program to see what I can do to better help my sponsees. I received lots of good advice, from getting back into the book to having them find a new comer to read the doctors opinion with to being kind and loving. It’s easy to think it’s our fault for their relapse, it’s not. But I can say that as bad as I want them to get it right it’s not my journey. The solution is in the book. The program is all 12 steps. If we find our sponsees going back out after steps 3, then they are not ready to commit to this simple program yet. This has given me an experience in my program that is reassuring me that I must keep my program at the forefront of each day and throughout my day. This is a basic version of my day.
- Upon awakening, I think about my day ahead, I ask god to help direct and guide my thinking.
- I talk with another alcoholic on the phone.
- I check out the daily tip on Loosid, look at posts I can relate to and share with them.
- Journal my gratitude list
- Make breakfast/Lunches
- Yoga/exercise/dressed/brush teeth/lotion face
- Off to work
- I may listen to Bible app/a speaker tape/have the big book on audio/call other alcoholics
- Text all of my support group positive affirmations. Check in with them.
- I like to keep God/Higher power at the top of my thoughts throughout my day. I like to have this saying “how can I help?” Ready for me to use at any given moment. This helps me to stay clear from resentments.
- When I’m done with the work day I talk with more alcoholics. I either go to meeting or I’m having a sponsee meeting.
- Make dinner/clean up
- Pray/meditation
14 read page 86 and journal my answers. This page is called our daily reprieve. By doing this daily, to the best of my ability, I’m able to go about my day with the thought of service, how my actions could affect others, and to stay humble. - I either read a book, watch a documentary then it lights out
I’m not perfect, I try to hit all of these routine points in my daily life. However, practice makes habit and if I’m willing to do this work then I’ll stay sober just for today. I hope this may help shed light on sponsorship, and what my working program looks like.
If you have any suggestions on sponsoring or what your program of action looks like please comment below. Your could be helping one other person.