ES>JR> My sponsorees (commonly known as pidgeons or birds)
ES>JR> KNOW I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE WRONG.  Usually it's because they left
ES>JR> something out in the telling of their problem, but not always. If I
ES>JR> stick with steps, it's okay as a rule, but even then... Good Grief, if
ES>JR> they thought I was perfect... [youch] what a miserable group of
ES>JR> EX-sponsorees I would have.  :)
ES>Boy I'm glad that your pigeons recognize and accept that you imperfect.  I
ES>wish that some of mine did.  I had to tell one of my sponsees not to place
ES>unrealisitc expectations on me.
Ah hah! I have problems with my pigeons with MY EXPECTATIONS of them!
After all, I've been sober a bunch of years, and I learned this and
that, so why don't they already know what I know?  
But I was also nice enough to tell him why.
ES>I told him if he places an expectation on me, I will try to not only live 
up
ES>to it but surpass it.  I'm a perfectionist, I go to extremes, and I have 
yet
ES>to find middle ground and accept that my best is fine.
I gave up on being Perfect.  I just can't live up to it anymore. Still
makes me uncomfortable when I can't be... but for the most part, being
an imperfect person in an imperfect world works for me these days.
ES>he said but your so knowledgeable and you always have the right answer and 
A
ES>Nauseum.....I said I may have some of the answers some of the time, but I
ES>often times lack the common sense to practice knowledge with Wisdom.  I 
rely
ES>on others to teach me how to do that.  This burst his bubble.  But he's 
stil
ES>one of my sponsees and he's doing a lot better at becoming self sufficient
ES>becuase of it.  So I gotta be doing something right.
I haven't figured out the job description for being a Sponsor. I've had
two people go back out again, and one made it back.  I did the same
thing...sober three years, went out on the entertainment plan but
finally made it back, and now I've been sober 14 plus years. The first
one I thought was my fault. My sponsor said no, it was because that
pigeon hadn't had her last drink yet.
Of course you are doing something right!  Isn't it wonderful to see them
grow and become self-sufficient?  I give my HP a whole lot of credit,
plus I spend some time in a position of prayer, or meditation, or
whatever...
Thanks for your comments,
Joan
ES>Your's in Unity and Recovery
ES>Edward S.
ES>I'm perfectly imperfect, and that is fine.
ES>--- GEcho 1.00
(1:268/442
 * SLMR 2.1a * ..SPONSEE: "But I..." SPONSER: "Don't call me 'BUTTEYE'!"
--- WM v3.01/93-0495
---------------