This post seems to have a timeless quality to it… which is why I’m editing it to bring it up to date. I originally posted this June 05, 2006.
Good ‘ole Tony AA from the East End (Suffolk Cty., NY) – in response to a newcomer’s question.
“When should I start working the steps?”
And Tony asked “Is the puke on your shoes dry yet?”
Because Tony believed, as I’ve learned to believe, that it is never too early to start working the steps. We don’t get better to do the steps, we do the steps to get better.
Though Bill W’s story talks of …read more

For those who’ve been around for a few 24 hours and who’s skin has thickened a bit…
WHY GO TO MEETINGS
Shortly before his death in 1950, Dr. Bob was asked why he still went to meetings.
His three reasons should give every A.A. member pause to reflect deeply as they are the very essence of A.A. service. Dr. Bob said:
“The first reason is that this way is working so well, why should I take a chance on any other way.
The second reason is that I don’t want to deprive myself of the privilege of meeting, greeting and visiting with fellow alcoholics.
The third …read more

Do you concern yourself with the “appropriateness” or the “intelligence” or the worth of something you might want to share in a meeting?
I continue to subscribe to the principle the oldtimers taught me – that is that there is nothing you can share in an AA meeting that is truly wrong. Even if you are completely out of line, you, or someone else, will learn something from what you shared. If you are approached and chastised about what you shared that might have been inappropriate, in an inappropriate manner, please, by all means, say so, probably to your sponsor. If …read more

Okay… we’ve had two consecutive meetings where we’ve discussed choice and defense against the first drink.
To begin the first meeting, we quoted from page 24 in the Big Book;
“The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink.”
To begin the next meeting we quoted from page 43;
“The alcoholic …read more

If I ask for a lead on anger, the topic is anger, right?
If I ask for a lead on acceptance, the topic is acceptance, right?
If I ask for a lead on feeling left out, the topic is feeling left out, right?
And then, from my experience, the discussion will probably flow along the lines of solutions from the Twelve Steps that will help me/us get through these times, right?
Then why, oh why, oh freakin’ why, when a lead is given for the First Step, does everyone have to practice “Can you bottom this?” Or, more precisely, “become drunkalog infested contests of …read more

From today’s Daily Reflection;
“He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine life either with alcohol or without it.”
The writer (I imagine, Bill W.) speaks of the double standard “that held me captive as an active alcoholic… filled with terror and confusion,”
“If I don’t get a drink I’m going to die,” which was competing with “If I continue drinking it’s going to kill me.”
Yet this became the “absolute essential” for recovery!
“Both compulsive thoughts pushed me ever closer to the bottom. That bottom produced a total acceptance of my alcoholism – with no reservations whatsoever – …read more

Bill W. wrote an article in May, 1947 which appears in The Language Of The Heart as “Adequate Hospitalization: One Great Need” within which he speaks of “presenting the program.”
Of hospitalization Bill says: “The primary purpose of hospitalization is not to save our prospect the pain of getting sober; its real purpose is to place him in the state of greatest receptivity to our AA program.” He also says: “Often enough, hospitalization is the event that beautifully clears his path to acceptance of that all-important First Step: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become …read more

Thursday night was anniversary night at the South Side Group. Joe B. celebrated 18 years and Charles N. celebrated 4 years. Dotty W. shared her experience, strength and hope from the podium as she does each year at Joe’s anniversary.
Among many things she says that I am able to relate to, one in particular stands out.
I almost died from trying harder!

The first word in the first step is “We,” not by accident, but by design. From the 12 Step forum;
A man falls into a hole.
A priest walks by. The man says, “Hey can you help me?” The priest writes a prayer and tosses it into the hole.
A doctor walks by. The man says, “Hey can you help me?” The Dr. writes a prescription and throws it into the hole.
Another man walks by. The first man says, “Hey can you help me?” The other man jumps in.
First man says what the #$%%$ are you doing? Now we are both in a …read more

It is nice to know that you’re not alone.
In today’s Savannah Morning News there is an article about the new head football coach at Savannah State Univ., Chet Lemon.
Mr. Lemon has a philosophy and a belief that he applies to football and life that I feel could be applied to recovery as well.
Here it is;