Borrowed from last year;

Constant = Unchanged, Consistently recurring over time, persistent…

Page 20: “Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.”

Page 73: “But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone all their story… He is under constant fear and tension – that makes for more drinking.”

Page 155: “He told me how he lived in constant worry about those who might find out about his alcoholism.”

Recovery from a hopeless state of mind and body remains a “do what you don’t want to do” program. The Promises will materialize if we work for them!

Post from: Blisstree

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes 2009

Greetings On Our 10th Christmas

1944

Yes, it’s in the air! The spirit of Christmas once more warms this poor distraught world. Over the whole globe millions are looking forward to that one day when strife can be forgotten, when it will be remembered that all human beings, even the least are loved by God, when men will hope for the coming of the Prince of Peace as they never hoped before.

But there is another world which is not poor. Neither is it distraught. It is the world of Alcoholics Anonymous, where thousands dwell happily and secure. Secure because each of us, in his own way, knows a greater power who is love, who is just, and who can be trusted.

Nor can men and women of AA ever forget that only through suffering did they find enough humility to enter the portals of that New World.

How privileged we are to understand so well the divine paradox that strength rises from weakness, that humiliation goes before resurrection; that pain is not only the price but the very touchstone of spiritual rebirth.

Knowing it’s full worth and purpose, we can no longer fear adversity, we have found prosperity where there was poverty, peace and joy have sprung out of the very midst of chaos.

Great indeed, our blessings!

And so — Merry Christmas to you all — from the Trustees, from Bobbie and from Lois and me.

Bill Wilson

[Source]

Post from: Blisstree

Bill and Lois’ Christmas Message, 1944

Page 113;

“We temporarily cease to grow because we feel satisfied that there is no need for all of A.A.’s Twelve Steps for us. We are doing fine on a few of them, the First Step and that part of the Twelfth where we “carry the message.” In A.A. slang, that blissful state is known as ‘two-stepping.’ And it can go on for years.

The best intentioned of us can fall for the ‘two-step’ illusion. Sooner or later the pink cloud stage will wear off and things go disappointingly dull. We begin to think that A.A. doesn’t pay off after all. We become puzzled and discouraged.

Then perhaps life, as it has a way of doing, suddenly hands us a great big lump that we can’t begin to swallow, let alone digest. We fail to get a worked-for promotion. We lose that good job. Maybe there are serious domestic or romantic difficulties, or perhaps that boy we thought God was looking after becomes a military casualty.”

I.E. the realities of life jump up and bite us in the a**! And if we’re not fully centered, or grounded, in the Twelve Steps, chances are we’ll drink again.

If you’re part of the “gang” who’s out there trying to convince newcomers that they can stay sober based on service work before they’re versed in the Twelve Steps, stop it, then go back and fix what you’ve done.

“But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got.”

Post from: Blisstree

Two-Stepping

You’re going to hear from folks who are called “chronic slippers.” They are not bedtime shoes, they are people who come and go, stay sober for a short time, relapse, come back etc. etc. etc.

Rob the Hat and old man Charlie used to tell a story about, of all names, a fellow named Mark who’d come into one of the Centereach groups. Mark would shake and bake for a while, stay sober for about three months, get to feeling better and then start to share about how he was thinking about drinking again. Then he would disappear.

A few months later Mark would reappear and go through the process once more. He’d shake and bake for a while, stay sober for about three months, get to feeling better then start to share about thinking about drinking, then disappear again.

After the third time Mark did this the oldtimers in the group gathered to see what ideas they could come up with to help Mark. The next time Mark did this, as he began to share about thinking about drinking, Rob, Charlie and a few others handed Mark a fifty dollar bill and told him that as long as he was going to drink again to do it up good. This scenario happened twice more.

The third time the group handed Mark a fifty dollar bill and told him to do it up good, he looked at them and yelled “F’ YOU!!!” Rob, Charlie and the others smiled as they said “Now you’ve got it!”

It has been my experience by listening and observing folks who keep slipping that there are consistencies in their stories and how they speak. One thing they invariably say is that they have been around AA for however long they choose to tell us.

Be a Don M. penguin – get in the middle!

Post from: Blisstree

Around – And Around – And Around

From Barefoot’s World;

Personal Gains Of Being A Sponsor

No one reaps full benefit from any fellowship he is connected with unless he wholeheartedly engages in its important activities. The expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous to wider fields of greater benefit to more people results directly from the addition of new, worth-while members or associates.

Any A.A. who has not experienced the joys and satisfaction of helping another alcoholic regain his place in life has not yet fully realized the complete benefits of this fellowship. On the other hand, it must be clearly kept in mind that the only possible reason for bringing an alcoholic into A.A. is for that person’s gain. Sponsorship should never be undertaken to -

1. Increase the size of the group.
2. For personal satisfaction and glory.
3. Because the sponsor feels it his duty to re-make the world.

Until an individual has assumed the responsibility of setting a shaking, helpless human being back on the path toward becoming a healthy useful, happy member of society, he has not enjoyed the complete thrill of being an A.A.

I’ll never forget my first case… I wound up leaving all my worldly possessions in the basement of his girl friend’s house. Long story

Bobby P., are you still out there? Don’t forget – as Fr. Martin says: “A blade of grass grows a days’ growth in a days’ time.”

Post from: Blisstree

Personal Gains Of Being A Sponsor

Really??? Think about this. Unacceptable to you??? I thought we stopped playing God in recovery.

From page 100;

“Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said we must not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go into their houses; we mustn’t think or be reminded about alcohol at all. Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so.”

My guess is that the commenter wants us to live out our lives in some sort of fishbowl without social contact at all.

“We must meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who cannot meet them, still has an alcoholic mind; there is something the matter with his spiritual status.”

Does it appear that our commenter has a bit of a challenge with their spiritual status? Looks like it to me…

Post from: Blisstree

Must Not Go Where Liquor Is Served?

Page 20: “Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.”

Once again I’m reading your blogs, especially Mary Christine, because, for me, it is a way of reaching out for information and experience and to motivate the thinker.

I wanted, originally, to find where our book said “Constant vigilance is the watch word,” looked through the online index and concordance but couldn’t find the phrase. MC is speaking of someone who seems to be doing some living in yesterday. I thought about being taught not to live on yesterday’s sobriety. Constant vigilance popped into my head.

I find it sad that someone with almost 21 years seemingly has nothing to speak of but yesterday and can’t address today’s deal, whatever today’s deal might be.

Somewhere along the way they taught me to keep it in today because I couldn’t live on yesterday’s sobriety and I was real good about regretting what I’d done yesterday and fearing what I’d do tomorrow.

Page 73: “But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone all their story… He is under constant fear and tension – that makes for more drinking.”

Page 155: “He told me how he lived in constant worry about those who might find out about his alcoholism.”

Thanks for the mind push MC

Post from: Blisstree

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

From page 129;

“If the family cooperates, dad will soon see that he is suffering from a distortion of values.”

A Distortion of Values

Distortion is a misrepresentation of the truth. That certainly works for me!

“He will perceive that his spiritual growth is lopsided, that for an average man like himself, a spiritual life which does not include his family obligations may not be so perfect after all.”

True – so true…

“If the family will appreciate that dad’s current behavior is but a phase of his development, all will be well.”

Possibly, unless, through him, the disease has sickened them badly enough they’re also suffering from perception deception and don’t have/want to have, a recovery program. Then there will be no appreciation.

“In the midst of an understanding and sympathetic family, these vagaries of dad’s spiritual infancy will quickly disappear.”

Would have been nice…

Post from: Blisstree

Perception Deception

From The Language of the Heart: Bill W’s Grapevine Writings, page 315;

“Paradoxically, though, we can achieve no liberation from the alcohol obsession until we have become willing to deal with those character defects which have landed us in that helpless condition.”

Sometimes I’m amazed how easy it is for me to see something in someone else yet not be able to see the same defect in myself. I often wonder if my childhood was truly that bad and these defects developed to the extent that they’re so difficult to remove that I had to have God’s help! Yet, I’m not unique…

“Even to gain sobriety only, we must attain some freedom from fear, anger, and pride; from rebellion and self-righteousness; from laziness and irresponsibility; from foolish rationalization and outright dishonesty; from wrong dependencies and destructive power driving.”

Oh heck, without much fanfare I’m sure I have all of them to one degree or another…

“In this freedom quest, we are always given three choices. A rebellious refusal to work upon our glaring defects can be a ticket to destruction. Or, for a time, we can stay sober with a minimum of self-improvement and settle ourselves into a comfortable but often dangerous mediocrity.”

Dammit Matt! You told me you thought I had gotten some bad suggestions and here I find you yourself had given me one! “Strive for mediocrity”… I think not!

“Or we can continuously try hard for those sterling qualities which can add up to greatness of spirit and action – true and lasting freedom under God, the freedom to find and do His will.”

Yeah…

[Graphic credit - Angels Collection]

Post from: Blisstree

Freedom Under God – The Choice Is Ours

“In A.A. we aim not only for sobriety – we try again to become citizens of the world that we rejected, and of the world that once rejected us.”

Aiming and trying… it does not say that we hit the final mark or find success. It also doesn’t say that the world welcomes us back with open arms.

“The old line says, ‘Suit up and show up.’ That action is so important that I like to think of it as my motto. I can choose each day to suit up and show up, or not.”

Hmmm – or not? Really? I have a choice? Can I run that past my employer, or those I pay money to each month – like the grocery store? Sorry, I’m not buying that part…

“Showing up at meetings starts me toward feeling a part of that meeting, for then I can do what I say I’ll do at meetings.”

And there are those that only do what they say they’ll do at meetings… and no where else.

“I can talk with newcomers, and I can share my experience, that’s what credibility, honesty, and courtesy really are.”

True…

“Suiting up and showing up are the concrete actions I take in my ongoing return to normal living.”

Ongoing? Yeah… Normal living??? What is that? For me, for the way I’ve felt for quite some time, and it is not an excuse to drink – the world has rejected me more since I’ve become sober than it did before. “The proof is in the pudding.”

Post from: Blisstree

Suit Up And Show Up