Step ten thoughts... life LOL.. who would have thunk it?

I don’t know why but over the last year I have been giving step 10, 11 and 12 some thought. (only dangerous if I actually use my brain) This is what I have come up with, after thinking, reading and listening.

This thought brings us to Step Ten,

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong
promptly admitted it.

Which suggests we continue to take personal inventory (which we learned in step 4)

Continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. (Which we learned in step 9)

We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. (Doing step 10, 11 and 12 while working step 9)  We have entered the world of the Spirit.

Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.

Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. (Step 4)

When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. (Step 7)

We discuss them with someone immediately (Step 5)

and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone (Step 9)

Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. (Step 3 prayer)

Love and tolerance of others is our code. (Telling me how I should interact with others)

And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone, even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. (Step 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.) We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition. (this is what happens in doing 10, 11, 12, we keep in fit spiritual condition)

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. (tells us what happens if we do not continue with 10, 11, 12) Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. (tells me what I must do daily) "How can I best serve Thee, Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.

Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions (steps), we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further and that means more action. (no such thing as nap time)

So what it tells me is do the first 9 steps before step 10.  Kind of like expecting Christmas cards when you never send one out.   Doesn't do much good.  Life is an action sport, not a sit on the bench or be a couch potato but a get up and get going type thing..... if I want a good life, I had best live a good Life.. found out long time ago.. my God will not do for me what I can do for myself..... although He does laugh alot at me when I ask Him too... kind of like a father laughing at his child.."ya right, at 15 you sure do know it all..lol"

The blue is my thoughts,, the black courtesy of AA.