When I first read this prompt, something completely unexpected came to mind. The first names that surfaced weren’t of famous or influential people, but the names of every single person I’ve met in the rooms of AA. I thought about the people I see every morning on our sunrise Zoom meetings. Of course, I can’t share their names here. First, because there are far too many to list, and second, and most importantly, doing so would violate the very essence of what “anonymous” means in Alcoholics Anonymous.
While I can’t tell you their names, what I can do is explain why I associate them with the word “successful.” Every morning, when I sit in that meeting and see all the regulars—some new faces becoming regulars, and even a few visitors and newcomers—I’m reminded that, like me, they’ve made it through another day. They’ve managed to face life head-on without retreating into a bottle. Each of them has woken up early, making the effort to carve out an hour in their day for this meeting. And then, some of them, including myself, find the courage to speak openly about how we’re feeling, sharing our experiences with honesty and vulnerability.
During those shares, people sometimes say that yesterday was a tough day, or that they struggled with thoughts of drinking. But what really stays with me isn’t the struggle itself, but the fact that they’re sitting there, sober, sharing those challenges. To me, that’s success. It’s not just about the fact that they had a hard day; it’s that despite that, they went to bed sober. The parts of the shares that really resonate with me are when they talk about being there for their family, working with a newcomer, spending the day with their kids, or asking God for guidance in making the right choices. These moments, to me, define true success—recovering alcoholics, living in the real world, trying to be the best versions of themselves, and actively participating in life.
Success has taken on a whole new meaning for me now. It’s no longer about having a big house or a shiny, expensive car. It’s not about being Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, a famous athlete, or a movie star. Success for me has become about the quieter, subtler things in life. It’s waking up in the morning without the crushing anxiety that used to make me physically ill. It’s opening my eyes with a heart full of gratitude, and a mind that knows how to make the most of today. Success is found in the spaces between life’s major events—in what I choose to do with those moments—and in knowing that I’m surrounded by the most successful people I could ever hope to know.
These are the people who have made it through another day sober, who show up for their lives and the people in them, and who strive to be present, honest, and kind. That, to me, is true success.
Anonymous Success
When first I read this prompt, a thought did spring,
A most unlikely thought, a pleasant thing.
No famous names, no figures grand or great,
But faces known in AA’s early gate.
Each morning’s Zoom, a sunrise gathering bright,
A tapestry of souls, a hopeful sight.
Though names I cannot share, their stories known,
Anonymous success, a life well-grown.
They’ve faced the day, the battle bravely fought,
No bottle’s solace sought, no vices caught.
With hearts laid bare, they share their deepest fears,
Their triumphs small, their hopes and doubts and tears.
Though struggles loom, and darkness may descend,
They rise again, their spirit will transcend.
For in their presence, strength and hope I find,
A testament to courage, peace of mind.
Success, redefined, no longer wealth or fame,
But quiet moments, gratitude’s warm flame.
In waking hours, free from anxious strife,
A life well-lived, a purpose for their life.
These are the heroes, known to few, it’s true,
Yet in their hearts, a strength that shines so bright.
They’ve faced the storm, and weathered through the night,
A testament to hope, a guiding light.
