A Good Life

When I came to AA my life was certainly not good
I needed to stop drinking, but not sure that I could
I’d lost self-respect; I was completely beaten down
My daughter would not even let my grandkids come around

The wife had stood by me, but her patience wearing thin
My best friend at that moment was my bottle of gin
My partners in business said it’s time I should leave
I had lost almost everything I’d worked hard to achieve

So I went to rehab, then after, to AA
But I was not convinced they could show me a new way
A way of life that would remove my alcohol obsession
To ward off that first drink that would then lead to regression

But I’d made a commitment, to do what those folks said
For I knew if I did not, I just might end up dead
So, I went to a meeting every day as was suggested
Asked help from a sponsor, to help me get connected

Then after a while, things did begin to change
A chance for my redemption did not really seem strange
The thoughts about drinking slowly did start to cease
It had been some time since my mind felt this inner peace

But, although my life was better and had greatly improved
There was still stinking thinking, that had not yet been removed
A reminder of some things I’d done, during my drinking past
This would lead me to start thinking, this new life would not last

All my character defects had not been deleted
Envy was the one that most often got repeated
It happened once again at my brother’s newly built house
It was huge for two people, just himself and his spouse

Our families were invited to a house warming type bash
The house was a real showplace, costing him bundles of cash
The party was catered, and no expense was left undone
Yet I could not enjoy it, I was not having fun

I experienced envy and began to regret
The past I had chosen, one I’d rather soon forget
The time that I spent drinking, and the harm it had cost
The money that I wasted, the earnings that I’d lost

But as I sat there thinking and began to look around
The program kicked in, and my thoughts did settle down
My brother had almost everything that his money could buy
But the thing that was missing helped to open up my eyes

He’d not talked to his daughter for almost twenty years
His son lived in Montana, so he rarely appeared
No children or grandkids to enjoy all that he’d made
The pleasures of a family had somehow been mislaid

As I looked round the room, gratitude filled my mind
I saw all of MY family and they all lived real close by
My wife and our three children, and seven grandkids, all were there
The best years of my life with them, our family time to share

Had I not found AA, I would not have had this gift
Consumed by the drink had caused my family to drift
Today we’re all together, a family reunited
The spark that I had lost, has been once again ignited

Any time my brain begins to have thoughts like these
I think back to that night, that helps puts me at ease
Surrounded my family, kids, grandkids and wife
I know now what it means to say that I have A Good Life

Larry R.