Steps 8 and 9 are somewhat behind us. The Promises as given to us in the Big Book can be both prayer and meditation. When and how we see the Promises unfold depends on us, the action we are willing to take, and how we are living life in recovery.

My most popular article to date is "How To Make Amends - Step 8". Since that is only the first part of the process, I wanted to republish my thoughts on Step 9. Only by working these two steps can we begin the maintenance of our sobriety and know the fruits of the Promises.

Listing resentments in Step Four can be easy when there is anger or real dislike of a person. It can be very difficult when we have to look at the people we love who are supportive and in our lives today.

They are about the size of a half-dollar. The first few in various colors, the rest more solid. They are round pieces of metal. They have no monetary value but mean the world to those of us as we celebrate our hours, days, weeks, months, and years of sobriety.

Sometimes it takes more than prayer and meditation to uncover why we are feeling uncomfortable with ourselves. Our Higher Power gives us others in the fellowship to help guide us in our sobriety. Sharing can offer us the clarity about ourselves that we lack.

Forgiveness is the gift we give ourselves but why is it so difficult? We have to learn to "practice" forgiveness as we do with any other principle.

"Mommy Doesn't Drink Here Anymore", by Rachael Brownell is a sincere, heartfelt story of a alcoholic who like many of us, is a wife, mother, daughter and friend. Read this review and I am sure you will be anxious to follow her journey as you recall your own.

Disclosing our addiction personally may not be so difficult. Disclosing our addiction to health care providers should never be a problem but it can be. How can we be honest and protect ourselves when health and life insurance becomes an issue?

Most of our family and friends know of our addiction but how about those who don't? Who do you tell about your recovery? It's a personal decision but one we all must make.

Faith in a Higher Power, in ourselves, and in others is a wonderful thing. Until we put that faith into action we will never know how alive and free we really can be.