The Promises

By Mitchell Alan Paddock

I have struggled with alcoholism and addiction for nearly over 50 years and I had searched the corners of the earth for the solution to my living hell. Yet, the solution to my malady was right in front of me. As Bill W. wrote in Bill’s Story, “But my friend sat before me, and he made the point-blank declaration that God had done for him what he could not do for himself. His human will had failed. Doctors had pronounced him incurable. Society was about to lock him up. Like myself, he had admitted complete defeat. Then he had, in effect, been raised from the dead, suddenly taken from the scrap heap to a level of life better than the best he had ever known!” 

Bill goes on to write, “Most of us feel we need look no further for Utopia. We have it with us right here and now.” (BB p.16). Yes, I have found the solution to my alcoholism, my living hell, my malady. I have found my “heaven on earth” – The Fellowship of AA! If I learned one thing in my lifetime it is that wisdom is not the art of intelligence, it is the art of living. Life is not an endgame, there is not a finish line – life is an infinite journey! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Aug 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889101079

Mitchell Alan Paddock

Mitchell Alan Paddock has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin all his life and is a seasoned physical therapist of 30 years by trade. He is Christian and what he means by that is that he is a follower of Christ and His teachings of the Word of God and “The New Testament.” He does not adhere to any particular religion because that is manmade. Christ never spoke of religion, only of kindness, understanding, forgiveness, giving, sacrifice, faith, hope, and love. He is a recovering alcoholic who follows and works “The Twelve Steps of AA” doing his best to be the best version of himself he can possibly be on a daily basis.

Book preview

About the Author

Mitchell Alan Paddock has lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin all his life and is a seasoned physical therapist of 30 years by trade. He is Christian and what he means by that is that he is a follower of Christ and His teachings of the Word of God and The New Testament. He does not adhere to any particular religion because that is manmade. Christ never spoke of religion, only of kindness, understanding, forgiveness, giving, sacrifice, faith, hope, and love. He is a recovering alcoholic who follows and works The Twelve Steps of AA doing his best to be the best version of himself he can possibly be on a daily basis.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate my book to Bill W., Dr. Bob, to all my sisters and brothers of The Fellowship of AA and my Christian Faith, to those who supported, encouraged, and prayed for me. I would especially like to dedicate this book to my mom who loved me unconditionally and who had never given up on me although I had given up on myself many times. Finally, I would like to dedicate this book to God who is my Everything and who has and continues to work miracles in and through me.

Copyright Information ©

Mitchell Alan Paddock 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Paddock, Mitchell Alan

The Promises

ISBN 9798889101062 (Paperback)

ISBN 9798889101079 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023910437

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

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Acknowledgment

The staff at The Sweetwater Inn in Sweetwater, Texas, for inspiring me to get my work published.

My Experience, Strength,

And Hope

The brain is a complex intellectual machine with organic gears, pistons, motors, axels, bearings, and wheels that move at will or upon command. Sometimes they move or go into reverse without being granted permission to do so by the one who sits in the driver’s seat, or the who believes they are in complete control. The Sandman knocks on the door of my subconscious. I do not wish to answer allowing him entry into the comfort of my home called the conscious. But I unwittingly open the door time and time again to be haunted by my past. I have tried letting go and giving it to God, but I fool myself into playing a game called retrograde façade. I have done a Fourth and Fifth Step and I have tried to make amends. But the hurt and anger in the other person I have wronged is much too deep for my apology to be accepted. More importantly, I apparently have not forgiven myself.

Like a whirlwind of firing neurons, my thoughts swirl and spin creating a tornado from my past. I awaken not a second too late to see the oncoming headlights of another vehicle in my path. Suddenly, realizing I have drifted into the eastbound traffic lane. I desperately try to swerve back into the westbound lane. But it is too late. Then there is a loud, dense, thunderous bang as the front corner panels of the two SUV’s meet. Metal shears, crumples, and screams as glass breaks and shatters like the lives I have shaken and changed for the worse and possibly ruined forever due to the careless, criminal act I have just committed. But for the grace of God, no lives were lost completely. I could have killed someone. I want to go back even further in time not to do what I have done. However, I cannot. I must now face reality. I chose to drive drunk, a decision that may haunt me and the victims for the rest of our lives.

I was now even more ashamed and hopeless than I