OCT 30, 20 .. STEP 10 .. SPIRITUALITY .. DOING-THE-DEAL ..

As we come to the end of October (the 10th month of the year) here is another look at Step 10 along with Spirituality and Doing-The-Deal.

How often do many of us hear these words (from Chapter 5, How It Works, in the Big Book) : "If you have decided you want what we have .." 

What have we? 

As it says in the Big Book (pages 15, 28 and 81) "We have a design for living."

There is one small 'catch' here. After we read and hear the words in Chapter 5.. "If you have decided you want what we have" .. the following words are read .. "and are willing to go to any length to get it" .. "then you are ready to take certain steps."

The way to find, and to implement, our design for living is to work* the 12 Steps.

*work is an action !! The path to our design for living is not a free ride. 

I want my own personal design for living to allow me to feel happy, joyous and free. I want to feel good about myself. 

DOING-THE-DEAL (continue to do what worked for you)

You work the first nine steps and then, in steps 10 / 11 / 12, you continue to Do-The-Deal.

Spiritual Awakening / Experience

Appendix II of the Big Book (SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE) tells us that we have undergone a profound alteration (change) in our reaction to life.

In the spiritual world (NOT so in the physical world) if one of us can change, then we all can change. If we alter our reaction to life one time, then we can again do so.

Because I have been able to achieve the following, so too can you if you want what we have.

Doing-The-Deal 

Because I want to continue to experience our design for living I have to continue to do-the-deal.

I recently took a very serious fall. In falling I hurt my right arm (from my right wrist up to my right shoulder) and as a result I am in some (more or less constant) discomfort. My doctor prescribed Physical Therapy (PT) for me. 

So once or twice a week I go to our local hospital for my PT sessions. To enter the hospital I have to be screened for covid-19. So each and every single hospital visit I have to hear and to answer the same boring / routine / monotonous (dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest) questions and have a temperature scan. 

And I began to 'hassle' the hospital staff. 

"Sir have you an appointment today?"

"No. I just wanted to come to the hospital and 'hang out' all day for something to do. Of course I have an appointment."

"Do you ask these questions in your sleep?"

"I don't know IF I have been around anyone with covid-19 because many carriers are asymptomatic."

And on and on and on .. blah blah blah ..

Step 10 - The other day I did a spot check inventory (pages 87 and 88 in the Big Book) of myself.

I don't like how I am acting to these dedicated hospital employees! I am going to change the way I have been acting! Just one time, the next time I am here, I will be polite and I will act courteously.

And? I did.

As I left the hospital I said to the door staff, "How did I do today?" All of them smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.

And? I am now batting 100%. So far I have been a nice, polite person.

If I can do the deal, so too can you, IF you want to live our design for living.

SEP 30, 20 .. MORE .. YES STILL MORE .. ABOUT ZOOM MEETINGS

 I keep thinking to myself, enough-is-enough with regard to zoom meetings, and maybe this is a true statement with this being my fifth (5th) zoom meeting post. 

The problem is this : I (is it just me?) still seem to be on a learning-curve and all of the answers to (call them) issues with regard to zoom meetings, do not just appear instantly and in full.

Financial Cost of zoom meetings.

Yes Sports Fans, unless you have (and yes many of you do indeed have them) unlimited GB internet data usage plans, there most certainly could be a financial cost to you for zoom meetings if you exceed your allotted number of GB in a billing period.  

When I first learned about zoom meetings, the months of March, April up until May 8,2020, I was staying in motels that provided internet access. So I had free internet access with absolutely no costs to me (other than those included in my room rent).

When I returned home May 8th, I went hog-wild on zoom meetings and came out free and clear because I came home in the middle of my billing period having used zero GB of data.

Then reality finally kicked-in. Before I knew the ins and the outs of zoom meeting costs and giddily kept attending meetings helter skelter suddenly my June internet usage bill came due and (low and behold) I owed an additonal $64.91 (or sixty five United States Buckaroos). 

I then understood that zoom online meetings use (not megabytes MB but) gigabytes GB of data. I have an internet plan that allows me up to 15 GB per month. For my plan I pay $39.99 per month. IF I exceed my 15 GB allowance there is an additonal charge for any overage. 

Translation : I need to watch my internet data usage because I do not want to be paying $65 dollars a month above my allotted usage of 15 GB.

What is Chapter 2 of our Big Book titled. 

THERE IS A SOLUTION

And? THERE IS A SOLUTION to zoom meeting costs.

First Solution : While on a zoom meeting STOP the VIDEO. This will save about 50% of the data usage.

Second Solution : Telephone into the zoom meeting. I know of two telephone numbers you can call and attend the zoom meeting for free.

720-707-2699

253-215-8782

The downside to this second cost savings method for zoom meetings is this : You can not see anything. It would be like a blind person attending any meeting. You can hear but you can't see. You CAN PARTICIPATE if called upon by pressing * 6 on your telephone.

Zoom Meeting Popularity.

Many people do not like and will not visit zoom meetings.

What to tell all of your friends who steadfastly and resolutely say that : "I don't like zoom meetings!"

Tell them this (and I am speaking of actual experience) as you lose another friendship of years duration : "It isn't about what you like or don't like. It's about carrying your own personal message of recovery to someone who needs to hear you!"

And my own opinion? A zoom meeting has to be considered as an acquired taste. NO. NO WAY will a zoom meeting approach the warmth and comraderie of a normal meeting. BUT a zoom meeting is far FAR better than NO meeting at all.

This is my own personal experience with the phenomenon of zoom meetings.