A recovery thought
archie
We need more than knowledge to stay sober.
We need newcomers to tell us where we came from, old-timers to tell us where we could go and a sponsor to tell us where we are.
AT IS AN A.A. GROUP?
And in the beginning of our Fellowship in countries outside the United States and Canada, we agreed on six points that describe what an A.A. group is. They are:
1) All members of a group are alcoholics, and all alcoholics are eligible for membership.
2) As a group, they are fully self-supporting.
3) A group’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics recover through the Twelve Steps.
4) As a group, they have no outside affiliation.
5) As a group, they have no opinion on outside issues.
6) As a group, their public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion, and they maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio-TV, and films.”
Without a doubt, meetings are the primary activity of each A.A. group and the most common way of carrying the message to newcomers and to other members who want to maintain recovery. When we make a distinction between A.A. groups and A.A. meetings, we are emphasizing a concept rather than the format of what actually happens when A.A.’s get together. We think of an A.A. group as something that continues to exist even when there is no meeting taking place, because a group does many other things besides hold meetings. On the other hand, special-purpose meetings, which take care of the needs of interested individuals, are usually informal gatherings with no particular structure.
Best Of The Grapevine, page 208, paragraph 3, line 8
At a meeting, the chairman announced there was a new man, attending his 1st meeting. So each of us in turn talked about how we had been persuaded to take the 1st Step, naturally putting more emphasis on what we used to be like and the things we did while drinking, than on the way we are now. Before closing the meeting, the chairman asked the new man if he would like to say a few words. "Well," he said hesitantly, "I think you people just have to try and get hold of yourselves."
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Always Say A Prayer
archie
We need power each day, because we get weary, but with A.A. as our structure and God as our source of strength, we can face life without taking a drink.
We need to ask God for the strength to keep us sober; then the job is ours.
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 reason is the most important. I belong at that meeting for the sake of the new man or woman who might walk through that door. I am living proof that A.A. works as long as I work A.A., and I owe that to the new person to be there. I am the living example.”
Dr. Bob
As the policeman helped the bruised and battered bibber up from the pavement in front of the bar, he asked: "Can you describe the man who hit you?” "Sure," said the drunk. "That’s just what I had finished doing when he hit me.
archie
archie
We need to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
We need to make plans in recovery but we should write them on paper and not in concrete.
WOMEN ALCOHOLICS ARE DIFFERENT THEN MEN
The female alcoholic has more emotional problems, more health problems, more patenting problems, makes more suicide attempts, than the alcoholic man. The female alcoholic can endanger her unborn baby because of alcohol and drugs passed through the umbilical cord. Prenatal exposure to high levels of chemicals can cause death through spontaneous abortion or stillbirth, as well as malformation, growth deficiency, retardation. This fetal alcohol syndrome is the third leading cause of birth defects.
Women alcoholics have to deal with other physical problems too. Our bodies have more fat tissues than men’s. This means we absorb drugs and alcohol more rapidly, and have more toxic reaction to a given amount of alcohol. Our internal organs are more susceptible to the damage that can be done by chemicals we use. The changes in a woman’s estrogen level can heighten and prolong the effect of alcohol. The mood swings that may accompany hormonal changes can be intensified by using chemicals. More women than men experience sexual dysfunction. Many use alcohol to overcome this, to relax, loosen up. Unfortunately, alcohol is a depressant and an excessive amount of it will only heighten any already existing dysfunction.
There is an adage in recovery that says, If you don’t want to slip, stay away from slippery places. That’s easier for men than for women. Men don’t have to go back to the bars where they got in trouble, they don’t have to phone the cocaine dealer. But in a large percentage of cases, a woman’s slippery place was her own kitchen, her bedroom, her bathroom. And the people around her when she was drinking or using weren’t pushers, they were the members of her family. After she leaves treatment, she is returning to her slippery places and the very same conditions under when which she came to grief. She has to learn to be wary, if she’s going to be able to continue with her recovery.
page 129
Because in the boss-employee situation you found the old boys talking man to man. "Bud, I’m worried about you, you’re getting behind in your work, and a lot of days you don’t come back after lunch," etc. With a woman, it was more embarrassing. Rather than confront her, they’d fire her.
page 130
Betty: A Glad Awakening
At a cocktail party, a man got totally plastered, went up to the host and, in a slurred voice, asked, "Excuse me, but do lemons have feathers?” "I beg your pardon?" replied the host. The drunk asked again, "Do lemons have feathers?" as he struggles to hold his balance. A rather bemused host responded, "No, I don’t think so.” The drunk sheepish said, "Oopsie.” "What?" asked the host. "I think I’ve just squeezed your canary into my drink."
archie
We need to ask God for the strength to keep us sober; then the job is ours.
We need to be on guard for the unguarded moments.
A PRAYER FOR EVERY A.A. MEMBER
God, keep me from the habit of thinking that I must volunteer in every meeting no matter what 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 that it is necessary to share information just for some one’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 giving advice, and help me to remember to share my experience, strength, and hope. Remind me that my purpose is to fit myself to be of maximum service to You and the people around me.
Help me to remain teachable, God. Teach me (again!) the lesson that, occasionally, it is possible that I may be wrong and remind me of the freedom that I gain when I am able to promptly admit it and make amends where necessary. Help me to remember the difference between making amends and saying I’m sorry.
Help me to be a worker among workers, a friend among friends, and a drunk among drunks. Keep me from being a bleeding deacon, God, and help me to walk the path towards being an elder statesman. Keep me ever mindful that I cannot manage my own life. I don’t want to be a saint, God, show me the way to seek you so that I may continue to grow along spiritual lines.
Remind me to put Rule 62 into practice in my life. It is so easy to take myself too seriously.
Keep me free of gossip, character assassination, and judgment. Remind me that although I have humbly asked, my character defects and shortcomings arise when I least expect them. Help me to walk with serendipity, to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people and give me the grace to tell them so. Help me to see that You love each of Your children, and that You do not need my opinion of them or suggestions on what they might deserve.
Help me to be willing to accept Your answer to my prayers, whether or not it is the answer that I thought I wanted. You know that I have trouble with acceptance sometimes, God, so there are times when You will need to help me to be willing to be willing. Show me how to walk through life with grace, dignity, and my head held high, carrying Your message and practicing these principles in all my affairs.
And God, thank You for the people that You have put in my life. My family, of origin, and of A.A. My sponsor, my sponsees, the people of my home group, the people who 1st reached out their hands to welcome me to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. I know today, God, that I could not have walked these Steps to get from where I was when I walked in the door to the person that I am today, if it were not for the blessings You have given me through Your precious children.
Thanks, God!
Author unknown
An old man who fainted while walking down the street. "Call a doctor," said one bystander. "Give him a drink of whiskey," said 1 little old lady. "Give him some air," suggested another. "Give him a drink of whiskey," repeated the old lady. Finally, the old man sat up and shouted, "Will you all shut up and listen to the old lady?!"
archie
We need to prepare ourselves now for then.
We need to say what we mean but we shouldn’t say it mean.
WHERE IS THE BOOZE?
I would direct you to the foundation of our recovery--the Twelve Steps. Read all Twelve carefully. The word "alcohol" is used in the first Step and is never mentioned again. The derivative word "alcoholic" (one who has no control over alcohol) is only found in the Twelfth Step! There is no other mention of "alcohol" or "alcoholic" in the Twelve Steps! The rest of the Steps have to do with daily living, and that is the purpose of recovery--to live life fully, without the destructive power of alcohol.
Source unknown
At the trial of a political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness. "Isn't it true," he bellowed, "that you accepted $5,000 to compromise this case?" The witness who had few too many under his belt during lunch, stared out the window as though he hadn't hear the question. "Isn't it true that you accepted $5,000 to compromise this case?" the lawyer repeated. The witness still did not respond. Finally, the judge leaned over and said, "Sir, please answer the question." "Oh," the startled witness said, "I thought he was talking to you."
Bob’s doctor told him that his drinking habits were slowly killing him. "That’s all right," replied Bob, "I’m in no hurry."
Booze-battered, the agnostic executive finally dropped to her knees by her bed, clasped her hands and began, “To whom it may concern...”