A Day At A Time: How an Alcoholics Anonymous Book is Changing My Life

It’s the beginning of the year and we’re all trying to find concrete ways to transform our minds, habits, lives and structure to our daily routines. Some of us have incorporated journaling, prayer and even meditations. Maybe you’ve even hung a calendar on your wall and written positive affirmations on your mirror to see every morning. These are all serious ways to help us all become better people with a clear vision and transformed minds like Roman’s 12:2 for 2020. We see our visions in the forefront, so proper preparation is needed.

Honest Reminder #1: It’s ok to try again.

Some of us, especially me, may feel like there are things that have already gotten us off track; emotional curve balls. But what fun is life without an unexpected pitch? It’s all a part of the game and we’re the main players. I’ve started my new year over about 3 times already and it’s only February 8th. But it’s never too late to get back on track. My second grade teacher, Ms. Frey, taught us a poem called “Try Again By William Edward Hickson” and at 25, in this very moment, I’m realizing how the seed that she planted is so crucial to my life now. Here’s one of my favorite excerpts:

‘Tis a lesson you should heed–
Try again;
If at first you don’t succeed,
Try again.
Then your courage should appear;
For if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear,
Try again.

Honest Reminder #2: “In order to find peace, you must first find structure and a routine.” – Esther Fayson-Thornton aka My Mama

Get your mind use to a framework. If that includes a planner to help you better plan your day, use it. I know mine also stems from consistency. Consistency is commitment. We all are searching for a balanced routine but how can we be balanced without a formula? Be committed to yourself and your relationships will more than likely improve too.

When I tell y’all, for me it’s my ego versus my need to win. My ego is what will say “Girl, skip a routine, sleep a little longer” or “It’s ok, you don’t have to go to the gym because yo man gone love it regawwwdless!”

But really when we increase in our wants to be complacent, at the very base of it all, we tell God that we don’t feel like him moving in our lives and increasing. So in the words of John 30: ^“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

So apart of my way of finding balance, I’ve incorporated my bible, journaling and my Alcoholic’s Anonymous book.

No, I am not an alcoholic and have never been to AA but I do, indulge in cheap wine from time to time….to time and my fair share of Rude Bwoy Liquor. But here’s the story……

But back in 2017, when I was commuting to Columbia University from Brooklyn Heights, I copped this handy dandy book from a random yard sale outside of my dorm. The yard sale was almost strange in a way. Strange as in it felt like it was something that was meant to happen in order for me to get the books that I did. I remember waking up in my small freshman sized dorm at St. George Housing with my roommate four tiles away. We heard the commotion outside so I poked my head out of the window and saw an assortment of people sitting with vintage collectibles, selling them to people walking by. I remember going down and being drawn to this one guy’s table. He was white but it was full of all types of 1970s Black Power Movement books, spiritual books,  and other cool items from back in the day. Everything about it was MY STEEZ. The ones I copped were: an original copy of “Blood In My Eye” by George Jackson, the famed Black Panther who started the movement within the prison system. This book was special because it coincided with a book by Elaine Brown “A Taste of Power” that I was reading at the time (She was the first woman to lead the Black Panther Party)

But most importantly, I picked up this small orange book. It looked similar to a small bible and read “A Day At A Time” on the cover. I cracked open the book with the pages slightly yellowed from time.

This book contained Christian spiritual guides and inspiration from January 1st to December 31st except this book was published in 1976; All there to assist recovering alcoholics from addiction.

I paid the guy selling these gems and looked at other items like an old tv, knowing dang well I could not afford it. So I gathered my books and took them back to my dorm, happy and excited to follow the program. But who knew it’d take me 2 years to fully take reading it seriously. I’ve taken this book every where and still have never read it in its entirety. I won’t beat myself up about it though. But it wasn’t not until this year that I’ve decided to try to commit to reading. I’ve missed days but I’m still a work in progress. What’s funny is that no matter the year the daily message always seems on point.

Here’s a page from the book:

I love this because it shows us how we all suffer with addictions to things that prohibit us from living the abundant life God called us to live. Some of us may be addicted to food. Procrastination. Social Media. Maybe all of those at once but it’s ok. If we learn to admit our weaknesses and areas of needed improvement, we’d be much better in how we truly live our lives. But in general, all of this applies to any and EVERYBODY. Not just an alcoholic. We all may have faulty behavior patterns and coping mechanisms, but this book has assisted me as an nonjudgemental guide. That’s all we need. A stern yet gentle guide to keep us on track. This is also how I feel about the Bible.

I put a lot of Bible quotes in my writings because the Bible really has the key to the streets especially when we follow in Jesus’s footsteps. Disclaimer: I’m not a Bible beating missionary but just a millennial seeking refuge and guidance from God to help it all make sense and live my best life. I want the same for you all. We’re in this together. Here’s a link to the AA book. It’s a bit expensive but you can always download the Bible app, for way more tools.

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