Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness | 人生ゲー・, 不羇 又 ザ 追跡 仕合わせ | Vita , Licentia quod Negotium of Gaudium

GET BUSY LIVING

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OR GET BUSY DIEING

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     Lately, it occurs to me that there are more important things in life than money and careerism. It was Thomas Jefferson who quoted a free black when he incorporated his famous 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ clause into the Constitution. Jefferson, as well as myself, believe that life and liberty are inalienable rights, as well as the pursuit of happiness. Happiness, however, is not guaranteed for us - we have to go find it for ourselves.

     So it goes in our AA program. If we are one of the ‘lucky’ ones that can stay ‘sober’ without step work, how much value are we bring the world? The steps are a vehicle designed to rocket us into a fourth dimension of existence the likes of which we have never even dreamed – it is only there that truly we live.

     However, that ‘fourth dimension’ of existence lives on page 82 boys and girls – AFTER we finish the ninth step – and not one second earlier. We get life and liberty simply in steps 1-3; the pursuit of happiness is steps 4-9. As a result of finishing step 9, we BECOME happy. Again, happiness is the product of right living.

     I had somebody in AA insinuate to me today that I was a little too concerned with my life, and my little plans and ideas. This came as quite a shock to me, as I make it clear no uncertain terms to everyone that everything I’ve become is as a result of AA. My education, my career, everything – has it’s origins in the first 164 pages of the Big Book. The only people who don’t get this are the ones mired in the mediocrity of the first step. I’ve inventoried my part in her quite biting and hurtful statement and the only thing I can come up with is what can you expect from somebody who has never recovered from alcoholism? Quite frankly I feel sorry for her;  she's one of those poor souls stuck between two worlds.  Her odds are slim to none, and slim does not live at her Home Group.

     Time and distance away from the soot of LA has convince me that this past year in Long Beach has not been the waste I thought it was. I did a lot of inventory and conquered a serious health issue, as well as orchestrating a major corporate reorganization. What I really learned is that my heart is in New York and I wish to do my PhD at Columbia. I’ve got a place just a mile south and I’ve been sort of walking around the neighborhood with this big sh*t eating grin on – I love this town so much.

     Next week I see if my contract renews for next year, and if it doesn’t, ‘cest la vie. If so, one more year in California, but I am for sure moving out of the Long Beach ghetto. Life is too short to live in a slum; I grew up in one.

The joy is in the journey.

COG, 1st Cl.