Since I began writing here at A Dozen Steps one of the more controversial posts I’ve made was about a “Functional Alcoholic.” I feel I am able to speak on the topic because I was more than happy, as a newly sober person, to make claim that I had been influenced by alcohol in a “dysfunctional family” which had a lot to do with my drinking. That is until an oldtimer refused to cosign my bs and interrupted my sharing one night to inform me, in no uncertain terms, that the reason my family was dysfunctional was because I was …read more

Old-Timers Prayer
God, keep me from thinking I must share in every meeting, no matter the topic. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details and give me wings to get to the point. Remind me to guard confidences and to keep still when I feel it is necessary to speak up for someone’s own good.
Release me from the need to straighten out everybody else’s thinking and program. God, I ask for the grace to listen to newcomers. Please help me to remember the patience with which others listened to me when I was new.
Please seal my lips to …read more

From “That Ain’t In The Book,”
“We must change playmates, playgrounds, and playthings”

Page 100-101: “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 to their houses; we mustn’t think or be reminded about alcohol at all. Our experience shows that this is not …read more

One day at a time…
Sure, its nice to make all those wonderful plans, goals and resolutions – isn’t it? You sure sound good!
Um Hmmm – until roomie brings the meeting back to reality.
Okay, my God doesn’t have a problem with me making plans. That’s because He reserves the right to change them when He feels it is necessary for the reason He feels it is necessary, because He loves me.
Understand? Got it? LOL
Yeah, I know, it sounds nice to romanticize all those good things we’re aiming for this coming year. Heck, I hope we all achieve every last …read more

Newcomers will always be an interesting lot…
So, my roommate, with twelve years of passionate sobriety, isn’t in touch with newcomers eh? That’s a hoot!
And – he kept his share strictly in the first person! I guess in a way he answered your challenge or somehow explained to you that your whining about your troubles wouldn’t be solved by your brain but rather by working the Twelve Steps and changing your thinking.
You took offense. Too bad. You know why you took offense? He told you the truth. He told you what worked for him in a similar situation. You didn’t like …read more

Ladies and gentlemen – if you’re new to recovery and have been told to pray your troubles away, take heed, please. God is not a puppeteer. God doesn’t pull our strings and automatically extract us from the situations we place ourselves in. God does not do for us what we can do for ourselves!
When we were drinking (or using or whatever) and we prayed, how often were our prayers answered to our satisfaction? Now that we’re early into recovery, without having practiced the Twelve Steps, how much do you think our praying has changed?
So, if you’re feeling disconnected after a …read more

Delivered at the first international conference of Alcoholics Anonymous at Cleveland, Ohio in July, 1950

“My good friends in AA and of AA. I feel I would be very remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to welcome you here to Cleveland not only to this meeting but those that have already transpired. I hope very much that the presence of so many people and the words that you have heard will prove an inspiration to you – not only to you, but may you be able to impart that inspiration to the boys and girls back home who were not …read more

This post is worthy of repetition. It recently came to the attention of a number of us that a gal in New York with 19 years clean in NA is “back out there.” She is loved by many, and knowing that she’s killing herself is being felt by those she helped. As yet, none of them have followed her, thank God. Please, these stories are real and true. Take them to heart. Alcoholism, addiction, kills people. [Originally posted June 15th, 2007]
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I’m paying attention. To Mary Christine. To dAAve. To a host of others. And I have to re-tell this …read more

Because there is “One who has all power,” I can look back today and believe that on the day I came strolling in to Alcoholics Anonymous God had opened the gates of hell and
LET ME OUT!!!
A free man… a free child of His… and I will be forever grateful.
This picture was taken a “number” of years ago lol. You’d never know, unless you’re here, how well I clean up but I have.

Nope, don’t quite look like that anymore. Can you believe that, until recently, I was wearing some really nice Hart Schaffner and Marx suits to work? Miracles. …read more

I’ve heard it said “If you pray, don’t worry. If you worry, don’t pray.” Now I don’t know about that but…
Once again, from Came to Believe;
Heard At Meetings
“Many people pray as though to overcome the will of a reluctant God, instead of taking hold of the willingness of a loving God.”
Wow – oh heck yeah…
“It is wise to pray for the future, but not to worry about it, because we can’t live it until it becomes the present. The depth of our anxiety measures the distance we are from God.”
And I was taught that if God seemed farther away, I …read more