You have to give it away to keep it.

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.
- Eleanor Roosevelt


They say that an alcoholic arranges his life around drinking while the non-alcoholic arranges drinking around his life. How many of us drunks that have hung out in the rooms of AA can relate to that?  I'd think most of us can.

I picked jobs so that I could drink. All throughout my life. One of my first jobs, I was able to grab a gallon of beer out of the keg so I could tie one on when the day was done. I wasn't old enough to purchase beer at the time, but I doubt that even if I was, I would have. Of course, I figured that they owed it to me. Funny how us drunks can reason away being a thief, and still think of ourselves as honest people. 

Today, I don't have to be a thief. Today, I can try to be a more honest man, and do my best not to travel down that "river of denial". 

Involvement with others that are in need, others that are in the program, that gives me joy. 

 Today, I can try to give happiness to those around me.