I’ve been fortunate enough to experience and explore different careers in sobriety. At one point I worked in the world of private aviation. It was a good old boy’s club of big toys, expensive cigars, and bull pen events. It was fun and exciting and if I were 20 years younger, I would have taken on the challenge of being one of the few women in the field. My brief involvement included going to an aviation show with top executives one weekend. When I was drinking I wasn’t comfortable anywhere. Now I am comfortable in any place on earth, including business situations. I have owned night clubs and restaurants with no conflicts to my sobriety. Fortunately the obsession was lifted from me after the first two years of being sober and I continue to stay committed to our precious program.
One night after dinner that weekend of the aviation show, we went to a party one of the fuel suppliers was hosting. We were having a good time, but several of the men thought it peculiar that I was not drinking. As the night wore on, it bothered them more and more they decided to do something about it. Much to my shock, the CEO of one company pinned my arms behind my back while the other executive tried to pour Jell-O shots down my throat. They may as well have had a gun to my head as I fought for my life. I kicked and pulled and pushed in terror until I got loose and ran back to my hotel. I was appalled, terrified and grateful that God once again had my back. They had no idea they were actually threatening my life, but I was well aware of it.
Yes, we can say stay home, pull the curtains down, not go to work, wear brown bags over our heads, listen in terror at the news, or we can get on our knees every day and have a conscious contact with God and live a conscious life. I have found that following the steps and program to the best of my ability on any one given day allows me the total freedom to participate safely in this banquet of life, no matter how many crazy people I run into. No matter where I want to go, what I want to do, I take my devotion to the program with me, I pad either side of the journey with fellowship and try to surround myself with it like warm blankets. We have been blessed to be awake for all the colors, flavors, joys and sorrows of this life. I don’t want to miss any part of it! No matter what, no one can steal your magic and I know for a fact, God will meet you anywhere.