Today it’s time for the fourth in Year of Living Sober’s series of 12 Dipsomaniac Declarations.
Here’s Number Four:
Dipsomaniac Declaration Number Four:
As a Dipsomaniac I accept all my behaviour as a natural part of my personal evolution.
Like the rest of YOLS’ DDs number 4 is inspired by the corresponding Alcoholics Anonymous step. AAs step number 4 is:
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Why the AA step doesn’t work for dipsomaniacs.
Making a ‘moral inventory’ is fine but why make it sound so complicated? I’m all for ‘owning up’ to everything and being fearless in shining the light of consciousness into every shadowy corner of our repressed and/or fearful psyche but isn’t an inventory something you use at work when making sure you got all the boxes of photocopier paper your boss paid for?
What exactly is a ‘moral inventory’? A list of all the ‘bad’ things we’re capable of doing? Personally, I don’t think such a list could ever be exhaustive anyway.
Just as man is capable of great kindness and selflessness he is also capable of selfish and self-sabotaging behaviour. All I, as a dipsomaniac aim to do is be present to, and acknowledge, my behaviour in the moment.
Am I perfect? No. Is any human being perfect? No. Ergo I actually am a ‘perfect’ human being. Though I may like to try a new experience or two, especially if I feel stuck in a habit of getting drunk and crying over my spilt wine.
Hopefully Dipsomaniac Declaration #4 inspires self-acceptance rather than judgement, self-awareness rather than criticism.
Cause’ hey, we’re all doing the best we can.
Aren’t we?
My name is Ben and I’m a dipsomaniac.
Today is Day 326 of my year of living sober.
Little Booze Joke
An airport security guard walks into a bar and immediately starts fingering through the bowls of complimentary bar snacks. “Hey, what are you doing?” says the bartender. The airport security guard stops for a moment and replies. “Sorry if you find this offensive but you’d be surprised what I find hidden between some people’s nuts.”
How about you? Have you made lists of your good and bad behaviour? Do they balance up? Love to get your comments.
