Home - Letting Go and Holding Tight

I am a sober and grateful recovering alcoholic; a friend of Bill W. since 1981. Letting Go and Holding Tight may seem incompatible actions, but they are complementary suggestions for daily living that contribute mightily to sanity, sobriety, and serenity even on hard days, and especially on good ones. I have learned – and am still learning – to let go of alcohol and hold on tight to my higher power and the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. This blog’s theme, confidence, and tune is: The God of my understanding will not drop or reject me, and the program’s principles will not fail when I practice them.

My Prayer Life

I can’t pinpoint the moment when it dawned on me, but it was an A-HA! moment that changed my prayer life. That moment was momentous, when I realized other people, different places or more or less things would not

Not Feeling the Holiday Spirit Yet?

Reasons may abound for our not feeling the Holiday spirit yet. I am often the author of the HUMBUG that wafts through my brain by letting a few expectations morph into . . . demands. And I know better! (Falling

Setting Better Boundaries

Better Boundaries Setting boundaries is a [recommended] way of minimizing conflict with most people, some things and most places. I love the idea of have a zone of peace that’s based on a healthy respect for what I perceive others

Saying a Grace for Gratitude

Saying a Grace Growing up, a grace we said before a meal was “For that which we are about to receive, make us truly grateful.” Of course, that seemed simple enough when I knew a plate of tasty food followed.

A Thank You Note

A Note Here’s a thank-you note to a British mystery — Every once in awhile art accurately reflects the hell addiction is. Watching a character in new series Karen Pirie spiral through decades of drinking and drugging, I connected with

Getting Rid Of Baggage

I wanted to get rid of the mental and emotional baggage that kept me from enjoying my drinking. But I had no tools. I really thought I could find an easier softer way to avoid the snares that had caught others

About Me

Alcohol gave me permission to do stuff I knew was wrong; and for a while that was OK by me. But alcoholic drinking means losing more than physical health – it means ceding sanity and holiness to an insatiable craving. My drinking alcohol was like wrestling a Sumo wrestler who has let me win for a few rounds, but who then signals he is about to force me outside the bounds.

How did I get myself in this fix?

My answers and more questions come from three sources:

What I have learned from AA literature, and in the AA rooms listening to people who do not take themselves seriously – but seriously sought recovery;
The Lord’s word on my situation, especially in Psalms and Proverbs;
More wise words on recovery and addiction from writers who also care about recovery.

If anything you read here makes sense, it’s probably because someone wiser than I am said it. I cite my sources so you can assess their usefulness.

I believe God puts ways of escape before us in every temptation — so, I am sharing ways of escape that others suggested, that helped me not to pick up a drink, or become the excuse another alcoholic could use to drink.

I hope what you read will strengthen your daily resolve if you have a desire to stop drinking – or if you love someone who drinks too much. Do not despise the day of small beginnings! (Zechariah 4:10)

“There’s a thing in AA, something they read in a lot of meetings, The Promises. Most of those promises have come true in my life: we’ll come to know a new freedom and new happiness, that’s true. But it also says in there: we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. And I have no wish to shut the door on the past. I have been pretty upfront about my past. But do I regret? I do. I do. I regret the necessity.” ~ Stephen King, The Guardian. com

Your comments and questions are welcomed.

Warm Regards,
Sober & Grateful

PS: The Twelfth Principle of Alcoholics Anonymous is that of anonymity. Maintaining my anonymity isn’t a dodge to protect my reputation – maintaining my anonymity protects Alcoholics Anonymous’ reputation!

PPS: Here are links to AA’s website: Alcoholics Anonymous, and The AA Promises. Also, here’s a helpful book: Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave – Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel, by Edward T. Welch.

Letting Go and Holding Tight

Recovery & Faith

Recovery & New Directions

Recovery & Gratitude

Recovery & Working the Steps

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