Take The Cotton Out Of Your Ears
August 16, 2007 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Take The Cotton Out Of Your Ears! AND – Put It In Your Mouth!
There are a lot of old phrases that meant quite a bit to folks like me that I rarely hear anymore. This is one of them.
Do you take offense to such a saying? If you do, the odds are good that you’re early in sodryety. An oldtimer explained it to me;
You have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Everything you know about staying sober is on the first page of the Big Book, therefore when you open your mouth (at days, weeks, or months dry, no, not sober) you’re more than likely spreading your disease than helping anyone. The reason you have two ears and one mouth is so you can listen twice as hard as you speak. Listen to learn, learn to listen.
He was right…
Have a saying you haven’t hear for quite some time? Please, leave it in the comments 
I’m a good listener so its your turn to share – you are tagged for the b5media Science & Health Channel “meme” – 8 random facts about yerself
If you haven’t worked the step they’re talking about and you happen to get called on during a meeting: Tell everyone what step you’re at then PASS. Everyone knows you’re a full of crap, you don’t need to prove it DURING the meeting.
Love it! Thanks again John
How true and right on…
Meeting makers make it.
Ya’ think so dAAve? Actually, I didn’t hear that early on at all. First time I heard that was around 1999 when I arrived in Savannah (not to say Savannah invented it).
Personally I think there is a danger in this phrase. Meeting makers make it if they also work the Twelve Steps would be more like it for me… meeting makers make meetings and change nothing without the steps.
I’ve seen waaaaay toooooo many folks make tons of meetings and not get sober and die.
Why did Bill Wilson go out of his way just to hear what you and “old timers” call “spreading your disease”? Wow, because I didn’t know it was a contagious disease.
Is this what we have to offer the newcomer?
How would Bill ever be able to get what he needed if all that the newcomer did was listen?
Bill was only able to stay sober by “listening” to a drunk! Shouldn’t more of the “old timers” be putting the cotton in there own mouths, and listening like Bill did?
I have a brother (6 yrs) in the program, been to over 200 meeting with him, and he passed at every meeting! My God man! There is a long term, and very damaging effect of this slogan.
But by the amazing effect of faith in the Lord, when they tried to pull that crap with me, I spoke louder and twice as much!
Because I read the book not just the first page and went to a meeting!
6 months sober, and I still say…..”don’t tread on me”.
To many people died giving me the right to talk freely. Only a drunk could come up with justifying taking that right away. Only a drunk could find a way. Like coining a phrase!
Here’s one: It follows the get “cotton-mouthed” slogan:
“YOU WANT WHAT I HAVE?”
My first thought, because he said it right after the shut the f???-up and listen was: ?this guy is crazy? Why would I want what he has?
You see in the book Bill references; ” would I ever have what he has?” speaking of a friend (normal)who was rich in faith!
Simple! But equate in a drunk 20 years with-out a drink and he thinks hes got what Bill nor I (an alcoholic) will ever have.
I can’t drink normally!
“then he took the cup gave thanks and praise…. it shale become for you your spiritual drink”
I can’t drink normally!
But i can be saved if I can only get to a true drunk and listen to him.
The joy for that day!
One that hasn’t got cotton in his mouth!
Well well… thank you so much for that kind, considerate spewage Paul. It’s obvious to me you have all the answers and I shall bow to your magnificent intelligence right now – NOT!
But, keep coming – it gets better…
In light of preferance I would like to say sorry Mark.
I am half way through joe and charie step 4 inventory kit and taking a break, so I came here real quick.
I hope you understand
Paul
If you stay sober there will come a day when you understand…