This morning I got to sleep in until 8:00. I fed the kids, we had a good morning and I was able to do some cleaning. I was able to do some service work on the area website at mid morning and I got to speak to a guy in the fellowship. After that I got to do some much needed yardwork.

I came in for a late lunch and got resentful when I had to make lunch for the kids. I felt guilty right away as the thought came to mind that my wife got stuck alone with the kids last night.

I took a nap after lunch then got up in the afternoon and did some more yardwork. I ended up doing baseball practice with my son. I spent a lot of time in the backyard with my kids. I got to talk to my son about the importance of getting an education and the difference between a good job and a bad one.

Tonight I went to a Citywide Birthday Night. Several people got chips for years including 26, 10, and 7. There were also several 4's, 3's, 2's and 1's. One lady read an inspirational poem by The "Little Flower", Mother Theresa. A girl spoke of being able to go back to school and making the honor society. A guy spoke of hitting an emotional bottom even though everything looked ok on the outside, I thought he was telling my story. Another guy talked about how his car works right, his house is clean and he has money in the bank. He also spoke of making amends to a lady for stealing money from her safe and she asked him to speak at her halfway house. These things gave me hope and encouraged me to keep doing the deal.

I also picked up a chip for multiple years.

I remember the low spot I was at on that day I came back in the rooms. I had been around recovery for 5 years and couldn't stay sober. I didn't want to get another newcomer keytag. I was too ashamed that I was one of those people who just couldn't get it. I waited until I had 29 days and I picked it up so I could get a 30 day keytag the next night. I felt like I was not one of the "winners" a lot those days and like people didn't want to stick with me. One day I had the thought that if I prayed and meditated that day, read out of the big book, had a sponsor, went to a meeting, did service work...that day, that I had done more than 90% of the people in the fellowship. That I was in the top 10% of recovery!

I knew that this thought came from the wrong motive, but I thanked God for the inspiration in that moment of low self esteem and excess ego. You see I realized that I must focus on the principles of the program, "one day at a time". That my sobriety should be measured by the quality of today, not the quantity of years. Not by my feelings or circumstances or material success or what other people think, but on the power that comes when I do the work.

I still try to keep that same focus on the principles today. Today was one of the few times I stand up and say that I have X number of years sober. I would rather say that today I prayed, watched, served, was accountable, and took direction. Today God gave me power, peace, happiness and sense of direction. Today was another "best day of my life".