Jim Christopher Unveils New "Joy of Sobriety" SOS Workshops at SOS 2000 International Conference

Drawing from his own life experience and from secular works including Is That All There Is? (by David Brandt, Ph.D., Impact Publishers, San Luis Obispo, CA 1998), Jim shared his own joy of sobriety which he equates with life itself, i.e., freedom from addiction provides a real life rather than a drugged existence. 

Jim quoted the following excerpts from Dr. Brandt's book at the conference:

"The question "is that all there is?" requires us to examine our basic notions about life. Whether our daily experience is fundamentally disappointing depends not so much on what we achieve, acquire, or create but on our larger attitude about being alive. Do we take life itself for granted?

"We have too much to do, too many demands, responsibilities and routines. Life itself simply unfolds without a conscious decision on our part. But imagine how your experience would be transformed if you were continuously aware that life was a gift, something evanescent and recallable at any moment? What happens to disappointment when we appreciate this most elemental fact of existence? 

"Gratitude for life puts a new perspective on living. Disappointments are less hurtful when weighed against the gift of existence. Unfortunately, gratitude has a platitudinous ring to it. It gives off the mildewed odor of antiquated morals and bygone values. It sounds like a word flung from pulpits and preached by parents of teenagers. Yet for all those pejorative associations, gratitude may be our best bulwark against disappointment especially in a narcissistic era when everyone feels entitled to their dreams and goals.

"Our popular culture endlessly titillates, stimulates and touts personal gratification. It preaches the three-fold gospel of success, acquisition and fame. It tells us that these things will make us happy beyond our wildest dreams. But what we really need to be happy is to develop an old-fashioned sensibility: the capacity to appreciate what is given. To the question, "Is that all there is?" the appreciative individual answers, "Yes, and it's more than enough."

Jim then launched "Joy of Sobriety" SOS workshops slated to begin in late 2000 at the Center for Inquiry-West. Look for a special report on this new SOS workshop series in a future edition of the SOS International Newsletter.

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