Wherever you go there you are.

This was one of those expressions which really startled me when I first heard it.  It was totally new to me, yet when I thought about it I immediately understood the meaning of the slogan and it had a peculiarly powerful impact.  Even now as I say it to myself it seems catchy and surprising.

So often we try and change the outward circumstances of our lives in an attempt to deal with how we feel.  Sometimes it works for a brief period.  We buy new clothes, a new car, or change jobs, relationships or geographical locations.  Sooner or later the old thoughts and feelings are back-- for many people the unhappiness is vague and not intense-- but for us alcoholics the unhappiness is intense and there is no way of getting away from the illness other than by accepting it, not drinking and drugging, and changing ourselves.