Upon Awakening

What I do every morning — before anything else.

This is my daily morning routine. It is not optional on good days only — the whole point is that it happens on every day, including the ones when it feels least necessary.
If I know I am going to drink today: I go immediately to a meeting and share using the keywords “Burning Desire.” I call my sponsor at the same time. I do not wait.
  1. I read pages 86–88 I open the Big Book and read the morning prayer on pages 86 through 88. After completing Step 3, I read the Third Step Prayer instead.
    “On awakening let us think of the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.”Big Book, p. 86
  2. I call my sponsor I let them know the answers to four questions:
    • Did we pick up a white chip yesterday?
    • Which meeting are we attending today — or why are we choosing not to attend?
    • What are we doing today to work toward completing our current step?
    • Do we need to be called back, or is a voicemail sufficient?
    “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail.”Big Book, p. 89
  3. I attend a meeting with my sponsor twice a week Not every meeting needs to be with my sponsor, but two per week together is my target.
    “We are not cured of alcoholism. What we have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.”Big Book, p. 85
  4. I make amends for any harm I caused yesterday Before the day goes further, I address whatever harm I did the day before. I do not let it carry forward.
    “Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.”Big Book, p. 84
  5. I work on my current step Every day includes some action toward the step I am currently on. This is how the program moves forward.
    “Half measures availed us nothing.”Big Book, p. 59