Down but not out

During my early years in the program, I tried doing my part in sponsoring other men. I felt I wasn't being very successful, because all of them either went back out drinking or fired me. I was feeling defeated, and was quickly losing interest. I thought I was a failure because I wasn't getting through to these men. Didn't they understand what I was trying to do for them? Sponsoring discouraged me so much that I quit doing it for several years. I felt I should leave sponsoring to people who were better at it than I was. I was involved in other forms of service work. I went on with my life, being successful at many things that I never could accomplish when I was drinking. I didn't drink during those years, but I stayed miserable. I was sober and going to meetings, but I could not figure out what was wrong.