A recovery thought
archie
We help others best by inspiring them to think through and solve their own problems.
We hit bottom when we put down the drink.
WHAT IS A.A. WORTH TO YOU?
Exactly what is A.A. worth to you? Have you ever figured that out? Make a written list sometime of the benefits you have derived from your sobriety. Try hard to make an honest evaluation of what it would be worth to you in dollars and cents. How much have you benefited mentally, spiritually, physically, financially, socially?
Then make another list--how much as A.A. benefited by your membership? Are you trying to give as much as you have received? If not, you are getting something for nothing and that isn’t honest. You can never square the debt but you can probably give it a little better try than you have been doing!
We may be days, weeks, months, or years
Away from our last drunk
But we are only one drink away
From our next one.
Source unknown
An Irishman has been drinking at a pub all night. The bartender finally says that the bar is closing. So the Irishman stands up to leave and falls flat on his face. He tries to stand 1 more time, same result. He figures he’ll crawl outside and get some fresh air and maybe that will sober him up. Once outside he stands up and falls flat on his face. So he decides to crawl the 4 blocks to his home and when he arrives at the door, he stands up and falls flat on his face. He crawls through the door into his bedroom. When he reaches his bed, he tries 1 more time to stand up. This time he manages to pull himself upright but he quickly falls right into bed and is sound asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. He awakens the next morning to his wife standing over him shouting loudly. "So, you’ve been out drinking again!" "What makes you say that?" He asks as he puts on an innocent look. "The pub called, you left your wheelchair there again."
Always Say A Prayer
archie
We in A.A. are clearly dependent upon each other.
We in A.A. have the privilege of living lives in one lifetime, one life of drunkenness, failure and defeat, then, through the grace of God and A.A., another life of sobriety, happiness and usefulness.
WILL A.A. EVER FAIL?
Many of us have heard that our co-founder Bill W. said, If A.A. ever fails, it will be from within, or words to that effect.
Actually, the quote is from the closing talk at the 1977 General Service Conference by Bob H., who served as G.S.O.’s general manager from 1968-1974. Excerpted here is an interesting piece of A.A. history.
... all of us are a part of continuum of A.A. history. To some small degree, then, each of us is responsible for A.A.’s future.
Some of us, sometimes, are fearful of that future. We fear lest this development, or that problem, may destroy us all. Fear not, my friends. If this Fellowship ever falters. it won’t be because of two hatters, of professionals in the field. Nor will it be caused by future Rand-type reports, or by members with other problems. No, it won’t be because of any of these things about which we seem to worry so much. If we ever fail, it will be simply because of us. It will be because we can’t control our own egos, nor get along well enough with each other. It will be because we’re just not wise enough nor good enough to hold this thing together. It will be because we think too much about our rights and too little about our obligations and responsibilities.
But I don’t think we’re going to fall apart. I think we are going to stick together and keep A.A. strong and growing.
Box 4-5-9, February/March 2006
-----
WILL A.A. EVER FAIL?
Our job is to take care of our Fellowship, and pass this on unchanged to those that come after us. People say, A.A. could never fail. Don’t believe that. Mankind has screwed up every good thing that God has ever given him. There’s no reason to doubt that we won’t screw up A.A., also. A.A. will remain as it is, as long as we do our job. Our job is to see that the new people coming in the door understand that we do have a Program of Recovery. Our job is to see that they understand that all this crap coming in to A.A. from the outside doesn’t belong here. If we ever forget the primary purpose, if we ever get away from our Three Legacies, if we ever get away from recovery, unity and service, then A.A. will fail. And it’s not going to be the new people’s fault coming in the door. It’s not going to be those outside of A.A. It’s going to be our own fault, because we are the only ones that can allow that to happen to us. It’s time for us to stop. It’s time for us to tell people what we’ve got here. It’s time for us to insist upon, this is our Fellowship, and this is our Program, and this is what we’re going to do. And if you don’t like it the way we present it to you, then you need to go somewhere else. That’s our job. Our job is not to make people recover. It’s to show them the recovery process, and then stay with it as we go.
Source unknown
As we get older we sometimes begin to doubt our ability to "make a difference" in the world. It is at these times that our hopes are boosted by the remarkable achievements of other "seniors" who have found the courage to take on challenges that would make many of us wither. Harold is such a person. Very inspiring! I've often been asked, 'What do you old folks do now that you're retired'? Well. I'm fortunate to have a chemical engineering background, and 1 of the things I enjoy most is turning beer, wine, Scotch, and margaritas into urine. And I'm pretty damn good at it, too!!
archie
We join A.A. by going to meetings, we quit by drinking.
We just don’t carry the message we are the message and if we are not, we don’t have a message.
THAT AINT IN THE BIG BOOK
page 20, paragraph 6
"If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right-about-face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him."
page 31, paragraph 1, line 5
"We do not like to pronounce any individual as alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself. Step over to the nearest barroom and try some controlled drinking. Try to drink and stop abruptly. Try it more than once. It will not take long for you to decide, if you are honest with yourself about it. It may be worth a bad case of jitters if you get a full knowledge of your condition."
page 31, paragraph 3
"If you are satisfied that he is a real alcoholic, begin to dwell on the hopeless feature of the of the malady."
page 92, paragraph 2
"If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience."
page 95, paragraph 4
"Your husband may be only a heavy drinker. His drinking may be constant or it may be heavy only on certain occasions. Perhaps he spends too much money for liquor. It may be slowing him up mentally and physically, but he does not see it. Sometimes he is a source of embarrassment to you and his friends. He is positive he can handle his liquor, that it does him no harm, that drinking is necessary in his business. He would probably be insulted if he were called an alcoholic. This world is full of people like him. Some will moderate or stop altogether, and some will not. Of those who keep on, a good number will become true alcoholics after a while."
page 108, paragraph 5
IF AN ALCOHOLIC WANTS TO GET SOBER, NOTHING YOU SAY CAN MAKE HIM DRINK.
"A spirit of intolerance might repel alcoholics whose lives could have been saved, had it not been for such stupidity. We would not even do the cause of temperate drinking any good, for not one drinker in a thousand likes to be told anything about alcohol by one who hates it."
page 103, paragraph 1, line 6
WE MUST CHANGE PLAYMATES, PLAYGROUNDS, AND PLAYTHINGS
"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 necessarily so. We 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. His only chance for sobriety would be someplace like the Greenland Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a bottle of scotch and ruin everything!"
page 100, paragraph 4
I’M A PEOPLE PLEASER. I NEED TO LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF
"Is he not really a self-seeker even when trying to be kind?"
"Don’t drink, even if your ass falls off."
page 61, paragraph 1, paragraph 1, line 10
"Many of us felt we had plenty of character. There was a tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible. This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it-this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish."
page 34, paragraph 2, line 7
I HAVEN’T HAD A DRINK TODAY, SO I’M A COMPLETE SUCCESS TODAY
"We feel that elimination of drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs."
"It’s my opinion that..." or "I don’t know anything about the Big Book, but this is the way I do it."
page 19, paragraph 1, line 3
"We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem."
page 19, paragraph 3
DON’T DRINK, NO MATTER WHAT
"We do not like to pronounce any individual as alcoholic, but you can quickly diagnose yourself. Step over to the nearest barroom and try some controlled drinking. Try to drink and stop abruptly. Try it more than once. It will not take long for you to decide, if you are honest with yourself about it. It may be worth a bad case of jitters if you get a full knowledge of your condition."
page 31, paragraph 3
"Many of us felt we had plenty of character. There was a tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible. This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it--this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish."
page 31, paragraph 3
WE NEED TO GIVE UP PLANNING, IT DOESN’T WORK
"On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that we be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives. In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We don’t struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while."
page 86, paragraph 2
I HAVE A CHOICE TO NOT DRINK TODAY
"We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals--usually brief--were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better."
"If all I do is stay sober today, then it’s been a good day."
page 30, paragraph 3
"Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to do is to keep sober. Certainly he must keep sober, for there will be no home if he doesn’t. But he is yet a long way from making good to the wife or parents whom for years he has so shockingly treated."
page 82, paragraph 2, line 2
"We feel a man is unthinking when he says sobriety is enough." "You don’t need a shrink. You have an alcoholic personality. All you will ever need is in the first 164 pages of the Big Book."
page 82 paragraph 3, line 5
"But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psychologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. Most of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound minds and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles among us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in treating a newcomer and in following his case afterward."
An alcoholic went out for a pack of cigarettes 1 night. 2 days later, he woke up in a strange room. He peered out the window, discovered it was morning, threw himself into his clothes, dashed out to the nearest phone, and called his wife. When she answered, he fairly screamed, "Don’t pay the ransom, dear! I’ve escaped!"
archie
We keep in fit spiritual condition by taking a daily inventory; our reward is a daily reprieve.
We know we hit our bottom when we quit digging, then we can commence to build our recovery on this foundation.
THAT AINT IN THE BIG BOOK
page 133, paragraph 2
A.A. IS THE ONLY WAY TO STAY SOBER
“If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience. We have no monopoly on God; we merely have an approach that worked with us.”
page 95, paragraph 4
"Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little."
page 164, paragraph 2
MY SPONSOR TOLD ME THAT,IF IN MAKING AN AMEND I WOULD BE HARMED, I COULD CONSIDER
MYSELF AS ONE OFTHE ‘OTHERS’ IN STEP NINE
"Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences might be."
page 79, paragraph 1, line 3
I NEED TO FORGIVE MYSELF IT OR YOU NEED TO BE GOOD TO YOURSELF
"The rule is we must be hard on our self, but always considerate of others."
page 74, paragraph 1, line 9
TAKE WHAT YOU WANT AND LEAVE THE REST
"The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism."
page 17, paragraph 3
JUST DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING
"We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision.
page 86, paragraph 3, line 2
"Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas."
page 86, paragraph 3, line 9
DON’T MAKE ANY MAJOR DECISIONS FOR THE FIRST YEAR
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought. Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him."
page 60, paragraph 2, line 3:
"When ready, we say something like this: "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen." We have then completed Step Seven."
page 76, paragraph 2
STAY OUT OF RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE FIRST YEAR
"We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone’s sex conduct."
page 68, paragraph 4, line 14
"In meditation, we ask God what we should do about each specific matter. The right answer will come if we want it."
page 69, paragraph 3, line 6
"God alone can judge our sex situation.
page 69, paragraph 4
"Counsel with other persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge.
page 69, paragraph 4
"We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing."
page 70, paragraph 2
ALCOHOL WAS MY DRUG OF CHOICE
"The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink.
page 24, paragraph 1
KEEP COMING BACK, EVENTUALLY IT WILL RUB OFF ON YOU
"Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us."
page 63, paragraph 4, line 3
NINETY MEETINGS IN NINETY DAYS
"We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship they seek."
page 15, paragraph 2, line 13
"None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did.
page 19, paragraph 2
"Here are the Steps we took, which are suggested as a Program of Recovery."
page 59, paragraph 2
YOU ONLY WORK ONE STEP A YEAR, TAKE YOUR TIME TO WORK THE STEPS
"Next we launched on a course of vigorous action."
page 63, paragraph 4
"If that is so, this Step may be postponed, only, however, if we hold ourselves in complete readiness to go through with it at the first opportunity."
page 74, paragraph 2, line 3
"Returning home we find a place where we can be quiet for an hour, carefully reviewing what we have done."
page 75, paragraph 3
“What often takes place in a few months can hardly be brought about by himself alone."
page 567, paragraph 4, line 10
"Make sure to put something good about yourself in your Fourth Step inventory."
"First, we searched out the flaws in our make-up which caused our failure."
page 64 paragraph 2, line 2
"The inventory was ours, not the other man’s. When we saw our faults we listed them."
page 67 paragraph 2, line 7
"If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning."
page 70, paragraph 4, line 4
YOU NEED TO STAY IN THOSE FEELINGS AND REALLY FEEL THEM
"But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life--or else."
page 44, paragraph 3, line 4
"When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them."
page 84, paragraph 2, line 9
"So we think that unless some good and useful purpose is to be served, past occurrences should not be discussed."
page 124, paragraph 4, line 14
An A.A.A.A.A. is a recovered alcoholic who belongs to the American Automobile Association.
archie
We don’t choose who in Step 8 as it states all.
We don’t decide which character defect gets removed, if you recall, we ask God to decide which defects stand in our way of usefulness to Him and to others and we humbly ask Him to remove those.
THE ARCH
The Arch thru which we will walk through to freedom is first mentioned with Step Three: “Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom.”
1) The keystone is the stone in the middle of the summit, it is this stone that holds the other stones within the arch in place, thus the term, keystone; {Step Three}. The arch is mentioned again with Step Five: “Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have omitted anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last”.
2) Our arch, which is in the process of being built on page 75, paragraph 3, spans five of the Twelve Steps. It was entered in Step Three, when we decided to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Upon completion of Step Nine, we enter into the “realm of the spirit”; {Step Ten}.
3) Where is the arch built?: “But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good.”
4) What do we build the Arch with?: “When, therefore, we were approached by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet.”
5) We got to make sure the arch is being constructed adequacy: “Is our work solid so far? Are the stones properly in place? Have we skimped on the cement put into the foundation? Have we tried to make mortar without sand?”
6) The portion of a structure upon which all else even the foundation. rests is on the footing: “He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs.”
7) Helping others is the foundation stone of our recovery. The foundation for our Arch is described in some detail: “Upon a foundation of complete willingness I might build what I saw in my friend.”
8) ...let him go as far as he likes in helping other alcoholics. During those first days of convalescence, this will do more to insure his sobriety than anything else. Though some of his manifestations are alarming and disagreeable, we think dad will be on a firmer foundation than the man who is placing business or professional success ahead of spiritual development.”
9) “Twelve-—Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.”
10) “...we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch...”
11) The main stone in a building is the cornerstone. It is the first stone laid, it is a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall, especially a stone lying at the foundation of a principle angle, also it is one laid specially at the formal inauguration of the erection of a building where documents, records or other relics may be stored. A cornerstone is something of fundamental importance; a trait of fact upon which others rest as if forming a superstructure. In the latter sense it is akin to a keystone: “Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?” As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.”
12) “Thus was our friend’s cornerstone fixed in place.”
13) What binds the stones together?: “The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which binds us. But that in itself would never have held us together as we are now joined.”
14) Entry into the arch, however, is barred to those without the key: “We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future.”
15) “Cling to the thought that, in God’s hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have—the key to life and happiness for others.”
1) page 62, paragraph 3, line 6,
2) page 75, paragraph 3, line 6,
3) page 84, paragraph 2, line 5
4) page 101, paragraph 4, line 8,
5) page 25, paragraph 1, line 9,
6) page 75, paragraph 3, line 9,
7) page 63, paragraph 1, line 3,
8) page 12, paragraph 4, line 4,
9) page 129, paragraph 3, line 41,
10) page 562, paragraph 12,
11) page 62, paragraph 3, lines 2,
12) page 47, paragraph 2, lines 2,
13) page 56, paragraph 5,
14) page 17, paragraph 2, lines 13,
15) page 66, paragraph 3.
Source unknown
archie
We may be a heartbeat away from death, but we are a drink away from hell.
We may find it well to choose, for each day, a quiet time to meditate on the Program and on our progress in it.
THE ARCH
In order to heighten our spiritual experience and experience freedom we must build an arch through which we walk.
We must first establish the footing on which to build. The prayer "God I offer myself to Thee to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt" offers us a solid footing when it is uttered with sincerity. By turning our life completely over to the care of God we become able to be less interested in self and more interested in others. He will provide for our needs, we no longer need to be concerned about them. We are free to concentrate our efforts on helping others.
This leads us to building the foundation for our arch.
Helping others is the foundation stone. Even in early recovery it is important for a man or woman to help others. Putting spiritual development before business or professional success will aid his or her recovery and growth in sobriety.
The cornerstone, of fundamental importance, is his or her willingness to admit that there is a power greater than him or herself. Just as the cornerstone of a building carries much significance bearing a date, holding documents and other important papers. the belief in a power greater than him or herself carries tremendous significance. Step Two. Living in conscious companionship with his higher power God. fixes the cornerstone in place and allows these spiritual structure to be built.
The keystone is necessary to keep the structure from collapsing. The keystone of spiritual development is accepting that "God is the father, we are His children." We need to allow God to be our Director.
The cement is the common peril that we have all experienced. This is what binds us together. What continues to hold us together through storms, winds, etc., is the power of the discovery of a common solution.
Keystone--God is in charge
Cement--Common solution and common peril
Foundation of the Arch--Helping others
Footing--Offering self to God
If all of these things are in place it’s time to proceed with the necessary work to remove the character defects that stand in the way of usefulness to God and others.
Source unknown
An Al-Anon showed off her new sobriety ring to some ladies before a meeting. She explained, “When he’s sober, it turns green. When he’s drunk, it leaves a red mark on his forehead.”
archie
We may forget about our disease but rest assured our disease never forgets about us.
We may go to many meetings but do we belong to a home group?