I came to SA looking to stop ruining my life. I never knew that the key to this was service work. I have been in SA since 2001 (with a long break for research and development). I have never been willing to do what my sponsors asked. I would do half of what a sponsor asked me to do. However, Page 59 of the AA Big Book states “Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.” What I had been doing was not working. Half measures equaled full relapse for me.

I stayed sober in SA from 2001-2005. In those 4 years, I worked 4 Steps and did very little service work. In March of this year I asked someone to be my sponsor. I had no idea what I was asking for. However, for the first time I was ready to do anything to stay sober. Now I am doing way more service work. When I finished Step 3 I was told to start raising my hand in meetings for those that need a sponsor. I said I only have 30 days of sobriety. He said that is 30 days more than someone else. He requested that I meet with him every week. I was convinced this was too often, but I did it anyway. I finished Steps 5,6,7, and 8. Currently I am in the middle of Step 9. I am doing 10 and 11 daily.

When I was about 60 days sober, I suggested to my sponsor that someone should figure out how to deliver SA recordings in an easier fashion. He said that sounds like something good for you to figure out. So I started a Podcast, so I could listen to recordings. My sponsor suggested I share this with others and now there are over 200 recordings and over 16,000 downloads. It encourages me to know others are being helped by the work I am doing.

I am now sponsoring six people. I meet with them weekly. Three of them are in other countries. I make sure that I arrive early and chair meetings every chance I can. I heard we needed an intergroup rep for our meeting. I talked to my sponsor and guess who is now volunteering? THIS GUY. That is service work.

I see the 9th Step promises come true almost daily. The feelings of uselessness and self-pity are disappearing. To help share the message, my sponsor wants me writing about it and sharing it. More service work. The more I do, the more I find “it works if you work it!”