I have been in Program for three years, but recently, calling my sponsor on time on a Monday morning was becoming an issue. Because we live in different time zones, my day is well on the way by the time I sit down to make my call.

I found that the transition from the weekend to Monday mornings, with my family’s weekday routines, was unsettling for me. I was getting distracted, and missing my time by a couple of minutes.

My sponsor suggested that I set an alarm or a timer to focus me so that I could be on time.  I am technologically challenged, but I decided to face that challenge head-on and use my cell phone as my timer-reminder. I found a tool on my phone that allowed me to leave a voice message as a reminder. So I recorded my reminder and set the time.

Later that day, I was sitting in the dentist’s office waiting room and I received a call on my cell phone. Instead of my usual pleasant ring, this message blared out, “Stop and call your sponsor!” I had inadvertently changed the voice message to myself into my ringtone! Wow, what a reminder to ask for help. I asked my kids to show me how to set the reminder on the phone—the right way—and my husband has already set up a reminder on the computer.

But you know what? The cell phone incident did work. I haven’t been late for a call since!