We celebrate sobriety anniversaries for two reasons: 1) we acknowledge the miracle in our own lives, and 2) we publicly declare to the next struggling alcoholic that there IS a solution to the drink problem.
Las Vegas has mastered the art of momentum. There is no doubt a science behind the celebratory noise a slot machine screams to a winner. First, we believe it is an alert that the player has won a prize, but more importantly, it alerts the floor that winning CAN happen – that it IS happening. The proof presents the hope.
Set in the middle of a desert, we can’t stand outside the gaming area in the heat of the nothingness and expect the system to pay out. It just doesn’t work that way. One needs to play to hope for a payout. It is in motion that the miracle can unfold.
Though a game of chance, playing the right game at the right time is the right formula. What we do know is that, for the most part, big wins take big bets. In slots, the max bet pays off the max benefit. In recovery, we are playing to win big, which means putting your all into the attempt to gain the most from the experience.
Sitting at the machine, taking a place at the table, we have come to expect the unexpected. It can be a period of anxiousness or tranquility. It can be anything, but it will be what it will be. The sounds of the casino never stop. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the doors are open and inviting for those seeking change. Likewise, the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous are always open as meetings can be found online and offline around the clock. There is always an open chair where the unpredicted unfolds.
For the player, volume matters. It is not how long you sit but how much you win. Time matters not, for it is the final tally that matters. What we do is more important than how long we have been doing it. Sobriety, true sobriety, is about life quality. It doesn’t matter how old you are, though we celebrate those milestones, but the value of the total events counted at the end of the day.
What needs to be mentioned is the pain of losing while engaging in betting and in life. We go through stretches where we can’t win to save our lives. Remembering that losses are part of the game keeps us in the chair. Also important to note is that the house always wins. This is not our floor, as we are only players. There is a bigger picture at play, and as long as we keep the perspective that joy is found in the moment, the thrill of the pull, not the outcome, we will find the enjoyment promised.
So, time equals opportunity. The longer we play, the better our chance of prosperity. There is a chance, as long as we are on the floor and in an environment built for healing.
We have hit the Jackpot: Peace, Meaningful Relationships, and a Purpose. We hit because we showed up and pulled the handle repeatedly. We share this so someone can hear the sound of success.
We keep playing because the miracle machine keeps paying out. It is uncanny yet possible for anyone. We stay in the casino for chance; we remain in the game for gain. We enjoy each turn, win or lose, for the experience we gain. We have come to appreciate that the seat is where we belong.
We share our victories and failures with others so that they can shape a sobriety path for themselves. Our machine rings, and validation exposes itself. We celebrate our time and achievements as acknowledgment and hope to the hurting.
We play to win.
Thoughts and ideas for this blog post were taken and built upon from sober.coffee podcast #175 titled “A Time to Clelebrate” The session dropped 7/31/2024 . Click here to hear the podcast.
Photo by Heather Gill on Unsplash
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Alcoholics Anonymous and AA are registered trademarks of Alcoholics World Service. Inc. References to AA, the 12 steps, and 12 traditions does not mean that AA has reviewed or approved the contents of this publication nor that AA agrees with the views expressed herein. This publication is intended to support personal growth and should not be considered a substitute for healthcare professionals' advice. The author’s advice and viewpoints are their own.
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