Miserable old timers  

Some people just don't let themselves be happy I guess.

Maybe I'm crazy but aren't we told that the ones that aren't really happy are the ones that aren't working a solid program?? Are they working the steps with a sponsor? Do they even*have* a sponsor? Do they work with a sponsee? What about service work? You can't keep it if you don't give it away, right? And how about just general socializing? Is that happening?Chances are the answer to most of those is no. Why? Because they get too complacent and then they think that they're sober and that's all they need to be. They feel that they're happy and there's no convincing them that their version of happy is nothing more than being drunk, without the drink in hand.
I've only been in the program 18 months and I've only been sober 12 (1 year Saturday, as a matter of fact) but I'm smart enough to stick with the winners. Meeting makers make it...which is what the grumpy old timers are. But they're meeting makers primarily out of habit and nothing more. However, it's the winners...the sponsors, the service volunteers, the general socializers, outside of the meetings, that I spend my time with because those are the ones that bring me up. Those are the ones who I want to follow, in my own program, because they're the ones that are the real winners in what could be a losing battle if we allow our complacency to turn us into "Grumpy Old Timers".

I bet if there was a movie titled "Grump Old Timers" the millions of alcoholics out there would eat it up! Wha'dya think? lol

as much as I do not like the fact taht I a an alkie and can not drink the only happiness I find about it knowing the remorse and guilt that would follow a drink. Once an alcollic always an alcoholic....the only drink I have to worry about is the first one.