H.O.W.

[MajestyJo]

"Out of Honesty, Open mindedness and Willingness, which of these three did you get first in early recover?"

The principles of the first three Steps.

The first thing that came to my mind was "willingness" was what I got first, out of the three. Now some few years later, as I reflect back to my early days of being sober, "willingness" was the first of the three that I got. I had the willingness to go to any lengths. I was willing to do what ever it would take for me to stay sober, one day at a time. And now that I think of it, without willingness there was no way that I could get honest. Honesty certainly came later, because for a period of time while sober, I knew that I was cash register honest, but it took a long time to find self-honesty. I was blessed with the gift to be able to listen as only the dying could, for inside, I was dying. It was a big step for me to not watch Jeopardy and leave to go to a meeting.

My mind was open to ideas, not so open to make changes and accept readily what others were saying, but I knew my best thinking got me to the doors of recovery. I was very much the person who said, "Don't tell me, show me." Walk your talk.

And as I have already read, many times....

'WILLINGNESS IS THE KEY."

Many times I have had to pray for the willingness to be willing.