There are several things I get from helping others. Feelings of pride and satisfaction, greater happiness and content in my life, and a sense of purpose are at the forefront. As those who have read my book know, helping others began in an effort to stay sober. I was told helping others in their own effort to remain sober was a way to help myself, and that I would feel greater happiness and reward in life. This sounded selfish to me, but after a few attempts at stepping out from myself and offering aid to another human being, I began to see the reward. Not everyone I tried to help was responsive, and some I never saw again after talking with them at an AA meeting, but when a few people did respond and remained sober, it warmed my heart to know I had some small part in the result. However, this wasn’t the only reward. If there is one soul reason I continue to help others, it’s because it gives my life meaning. Even if it’s holding a door for someone with a smile on my face, I feel good knowing I’m doing something for someone else. Today, I know my life makes a difference, and I can say helping others has certainly made a difference in mine.
Awhile back, I posted my first Amazon.com review for my book and thought I would share one from barnesandnoble.com. I appreciate what the person Anonymous said in it, and I like that it was on BARNES & NOBLE. “This is a wonderful book, highly recommend it. Darryl is so open and honest in his writing and accounts of his life both before and after his drinking days. He never preaches or comes across condescending at all. He writes in such a way that I was hooked and kept reading to see what happened next. He is also a testimonial to growth and self improvement. Anyone with a drinking problem would be helped by reading this. The personal story of overcoming problems and growing into self love and confidence, all without alcohol, should give many a sense of hope.”
It’s very hard to convince others to see things our way if they don’t want to. There’s hot and cold, up and down, and everything in between when it comes to life’s experiences and what people believe in. But it is this polarity and all the things in between that makes me see a design to life. Believe what you want, but something is going on here, and I can’t help but to have hope it will all be explained to me after I die. If I’m wrong, well then it’s not going to matter. But I rather go through life with hope, and most days’ a belief that something created life and the Universe for a reason then thinking life has no meaning to it. When I do this, the world doesn’t seem so harsh, and it’s easier for me to love and understand others whether they believe in something or not.
“I’m sticking with the idea that there has to be a god of some kind. Besides believing in myself, believing in something that created life and the Universe for a reason helps me find sanity in a world that at times can seem likes its gone mad.”
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