Fear and Desire

I believe that all of us who come to AA were motivated by some degree of fear. Fear of losing our job; fear of losing our wife (or husband); fear of losing our health; fear of losing our security--fear of something. Each of us has our own conception of what we fear, and I believe that all AAs come to AA because of this fear of something. My fear brought me in, but actual desire kept me going. I began to realize just how sticking to the program will change fear into desire. You gain so much while the change is taking place without even realizing it. If one is sincere, the transition starts to take place and desire begins to predominate in one's thoughts. Then, and only then, in my opinion, does AA really take a hold. Desire brings boundless rewards, helps establish peace of mind and transforms the "hard way" into an easy way to enjoy the real fruits of AA living. For without peace of mind, AA remains a task, a duty performed to avoid repeating unwanted experiences. With it, AA becomes a happy way of living. At least that's my opinion, and I am deeply grateful that I have it. As I once heard at a meeting, "If I could be happier outside AA, I'd chuck it in a minute; but I know I wouldn't be, and that's enough for me."