We sit in meetings, we offer others our experience, strength and hope, we share the stories of our lives.
Why?
I think the last paragraph of the preface of the Fourth Edition says it well;
“All changes made over the years in the Big Book (A.A. members’ fond nickname for this volume) have had the same purpose: to represent the current membership of Alcoholics Anonymous more accurately, and thereby to reach more alcoholics. If you have a drinking problem, we hope that you may pause in reading one of the forty-two personal stories and think: “Yes, that happened to me”; or, more important, …read more

It doesn’t mean they’re going to get sober!
I’ve heard a level of frustration in the rooms lately (no doubt happens every Dec.) because folks are 12th Stepping others who just “aren’t getting it!!!”
I can’t get you sober and you can’t get me drunk. I couldn’t get me sober. I do get me drunk! Same, same… for you!
The folks who share their frustrations are sitting in meetings sober!
Hmmmmm???
“Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others, so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful. You should not hesitate to …read more

In touch with someone who has a terrible need to fight all the hard earned experience you’ve managed to put together and are attempting to pass along? You know, that person who denies you everything you’re about today despite the fact that you lived it? The lady or gentleman who continue to believe that their brain will conquer their disease?
Thankfully, our founders foresaw these people and wrote;
“Do not be discouraged if your prospect does not respond at once. Search out another alcoholic and try again. You are sure to find someone desperate enough to accept with eagerness what you offer. …read more

‘Tis better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought a fool…
[This one's for you Micky/David/Patrick/whatever]
Than to open one’s mouth and erase all doubt!
Falls under the Tenth Step;
“Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint. This carries a top priority rating. When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant evaporates on the spot. One unkind tirade or one willful snap judgment can ruin our relation with another person for a whole day, or maybe a whole year. Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen.”
Only my fellow recovery bloggers will know …read more

Which is, imho, one of the deepest challenges for us alkies…
Just a few sentences from today’s Daily Reflection – “Love With No Price Tag”
“Carrying the message is a gift of myself, no matter how many years of sobriety I may have accumulated.”
“My dreams can become reality.”
“My wish to help another drunk is the key to my spiritual health.”
“I never forget that Got acts through me. I am only His instrument.”
“To act, to never grow weary in my Twelfth Step work, is the key.”
“If I am capable of laughing today, let me not forget those days when I cried.”

If you Google it you’ll find it yet I still couldn’t determine who to attribute this to – one more thanks to my friend Alex.
12 Symptoms of a Spiritual Awakening
1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
2. Frequent attacks of smiling.
3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.
4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience
6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
7. A loss of ability to worry.
8. A loss of interest in conflict.
9. A loss of interest in interpreting the …read more

Step Twelve: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
“Here we turn outwards toward our fellow alcoholics who are still in distress. Here we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards. Here we begin to practice all Twelve Steps of the program in our daily lives so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety. When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has …read more

Looking for something to write about and, once again, I found it at Barefoot’s World;
“The Twelve Steps As Ego Deflating Devices”
By Dr. Harry M. Tiebout – sub-titled “What Does Surrender Mean?”
“For reasons still obscure, the program and the fellowship of AA could cause a surrender, which in turn would lead to a period of no drinking. It became ever more apparent that in everyone’s psyche there existed an unconquerable ego which bitterly opposed any thought of defeat. Until that ego was somehow reduced or rendered ineffective, no likelihood of surrender could be anticipated.”
Wow – bitterly opposed any thought of defeat! …read more

Bill W. has some interesting things to say in The Language of the Heart about Step Twelve. Since there are no coincidences, I witnessed some of this at a Beginner’s Workshop just last night…
“In Step Twelve – carrying the AA message to others – I’ve found little else than great joy. We alkies are folks of action and I’m no exception. When action pays off as it does in AA, it’s small wonder that Step Twelve is the most popular and, for most of us, the easiest one of all.”
But Bill speaks of missing something of top importance through lack …read more

As a reminder;
The Tablemate was an early A.A. set of beginners lessons entitled ‘Alcoholics Anonymous: An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps,’ put out in the form of a little pamphlet. It was (and still is) the most successful set of A.A. beginners lessons ever devised.
And I’m drawing content from the Hindsfoot site, laboriously prepared by Glenn C. and others… We moved into Discussion No. 3: Inventory and Restitution Part I then Inventory and Restitution Part II, Inventory and Restitution Part III, and now, Discussion No. 4 – Active Work.
***************************************
Step No. 12.  Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of …read more