Sobriety is possible
“The best advice I can give beginners is to change their circle of friends because then life will start to have meaning."
IMAGINE staying sober for 34 years! Well, Morgan who is a member Robertsham Group Alcoholic Anonymous is a true testimony to sobriety.
At their meeting on October 26, they celebrated the sobriety of Morgan and Anjeev who has been sober for 12 years. The packed hall of the All Saints Anglican Church in Robertsham was proof enough that people want to live a healthy and sober life.
After the formalities, both Morgan and Anjeev shared their stories regarding their sobriety. It was refreshing to hear how their lives have been transformed and changed for the better. They spoke from the heart; their narrations were sincere and informative.
Choose alcohol or family
Anjeev, who started proceedings spoke highly of Morgan. He said Morgan was very instrumental in his sobriety; he helped him to take this decision. He also thanked God for the 12 years he’s been sober.
“If I look back, I see I have grown. Without my family I wouldn’t be here. The Robertsham Group Alcoholic Anonymous has guided me until now. The members of this group are amazing because they they are sincere and gave me the strength to go on. Without these people, this celebration would be in vain.
“I must say, I was in denial at first. I started drinking socially. That is why I say today’s social drinkers are tomorrow’s alcoholics. I did not become an alcoholic overnight – it was gradual. It starts with little problems. Then you don’t come home and then you become irresponsible.
“My wife put her foot down. It was either alcohol or my family. At first I came to this group to please my wife, which was wrong. I needed to come here for my well-being.
“What I like most here is that they show you how to stop drinking. The outside world will always tell you that you drink too much; however, they will not show you how to stop,” explained Anjeev.
Change your lifestyle and friends
He also mentioned how he relapsed nine months after his first attempt to be sober. “Before these 12 years, I tried to be sober but it only lasted for nine months. I told my family I would be a social drinker and only dring beers, but then it was whiskey. I went on a drinking binge. This was how I tried to catch up on the nine months I had been sober. Had I not stopped, I don’t know where I would be today.
“The best advice I can give beginners is to change their circle of friends because then life will start to have meaning. My personality has changed. There are challenges but we address them. In order to persevere, I occupy my mind with activities in the group and help new ‘recruits’ to adapt,” he said.
The coolest grandad
Morgan was described by his granddaughter who wrote a passage for him. She said her granddad is a great man and today no stigma is attached to him. “He is always there for us; we feel his warmth and kindness every time. He is very influential in our family. His story of success is great. He is the ‘coolest’ granddad. I congratulate him on his 34 years of sobriety,” she said.
He was overwhelmed by the kind words of his granddaughter. “This is awesome, thank you my child. I want to thank everyone here because this year’s celebration is for thanking those who have been with us throughout.
“Here in this programme we don’t get clever, everything is simple – just follow the instructions. I started drinking in 1974 and stopped in 1983. Every time I drank there would be a problem. I also came to AA for the wrong reason at first – to please my wife. She was fed up and the children would not want to go to school because they were embarrassed, but on October 27, 1983, I stopped drinking.
“I did this because though I didn’t hurt my three children, I could see that my wife suffered a lot. Again, I thank this group because today I am a stronger person,” he said.
If you too want help, contact Alcoholic Anonymous at their general service office on 0861 435722 or visit www.aasouthafrica.org.za
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