That is a true statement because it must be all about me. If it’s not, I’m screwed. The statement I hear at AA meetings always says, “The new person is the most important person in the room.” That’s right to a point. The new person is the most important, after me! I must be number one in my life if I’m to remain sober and have a reasonable chance of staying that way, along with living the good life.

I know this idea upsets some of the old-timers. Some feel differently, but this is how I feel, and it’s served me well for three consecutive decades of recovery.

When we read the AA Preamble at the beginning of every meeting, it states, “Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.” Number one, I must stay away from drugs and alcohol. To reach that goal, I must focus on growing and changing in line with spiritual principles. 

Thank God, someone made me feel important when I entered the rooms. As a new person, I quickly realized that if I didn’t put my sobriety ahead of everything else, family, jobs, and friends, I was destined to fail. I didn’t want it to happen, so my philosophy changed to, “My sobriety is first, and everything else falls in after that.”

I came to AA from a very dark place, and that place is waiting for me should I ever forget who I am. I’m in trouble if my priorities focus on other than God and sobriety.

I pray that the God of my understanding helps me never to forget where I came from and allows me to give back a few of the gifts I have received by staying sober.