Alcoholism : Am I willing to pay the price to stay sober, that I was to stay drunk?
One day I walked into a liquor store to buy a pint and the store owner told me it would cost $5.25. I gladly whipped out the money, said thank you and promptly left to get drunk. I think I had a good time, but you know how that is…..
A few months later, I wandered back into the same liquor store to buy the same pint of liquor. The store owner turned to retrieve the pint of liquor from the shelf. I asked the price of the liquor, not remembering of course, and the store owner tells me that it is $5.25, plus my car. I was stunned and enraged, so I paused for a moment, thought carefully about the cost and figured I could always get another car, so I paid the store owner the $5.25 and turned over the bill of sale to my car. As I proceeded to take that first drink, I thought to myself, boy the price of booze has sure gone up since the last time I was here.
A month later, I sauntered back into the same liquor store to buy the same pint of liquor I had previously purchased. This time the store owner recognized me, (which of course I am proud of because it means I am an important customer) and turns to get the pint of liquor from the shelf, with a slight grin on his face. This time I was a little hung over and again had to ask the price. One would think I could remember that by now, but I couldn’t. I did remember though that he couldn’t take my car this time because I didn’t have it anymore. I really outsmarted him this time. The store owner looked me square in the eye and says the pint is only $5.25, pauses and then says, plus your job. I said what….Are you crazy…..You already have my car….Now you want my job too….I will never give up my job for liquor!!!!!…As I walked home, bottle in hand, I continued to rant and rave about how stupid this man was because I was going to take my business elsewhere. I would show him.. It finally hit me….What was I going to do when I couldn’t afford to drink anymore…..I think you get my point ……..
I was so willing to pay any price to keep getting high or drinking, whether material or emotional. Now the question my sponsor always asks me is, “What lengths are you willing to go to maintain your recovery?” What price are you willing to put on your sobriety? When all is said and done he’ll say, “No matter what, don’t leave before the miracle happens….God’s got one coming just for you, if you’ll just be patient.
Anonymous
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