Humility

I remember hearing someone in a meeting say, “I’m the humblest person I know.” I don’t know if they were trying to be ironic, but they seemed dead serious. It had to be one of the funniest statements I’ve ever heard in a meeting.

Sometimes people associate humility with humiliation. They are so utterly different even if they do come from the same root humilis. 

Humility is inextricably intertwined with gratitude.  I am grateful for the opportunity to live life with a clear mind.  It is humbling when you see the tragedy of so many who do not achieve even a day of sobriety.  Why me?  Why have I been sober another day so it’s now been over 8,370 days since I had a drink? Why did a friend I once know in sobriety die last year because he relapse after 20 years?

Humility allowed me to take the first step and admit powerlessness. What arrogant, self-righteous alcoholic wants to admit anything close to powerlessness? I have to be truly grateful for acceptance of my disease. Most people do not accept it.

Humility is important because without it I may become complacent or even arrogant. (Alcohol can’t get me!)  Humility keeps me in the proper frame of mind: I am one drink away from being not-sober.