I Needed This Meeting
Oh Boy! I needed this meeting! That’s what I thought as we read the first half of the 12th step at the 12 & 12 meeting. These past few weeks have filled with hard news— not just of the
“Who are you to say there is no God?” (AA Big Book, 4th ed., page 56)
Twelve step programs introduced me to the idea that a God might be real. Bible study introduced me to the God who is real, and who had the patience and plan for me to sober up.
Celebrating Forty-One Years . . .
Celebrating Celebrating forty-one years with friends at a meeting today — after a two -year hiatus — was just about super. What to say about living forty-one years sober? A close relative gave me a segue. When I told her
Swinging at Curve Balls
How are you at hitting curve balls? (metaphorical or real) That was the topic for at a recent anniversary. The speaker described a serious bout with a mean kind of cancer several years into their recovery. And they did not
Step Seven: Practice What I Say I Believe
Every time I come to it, Step Seven reminds me to practice what I say I believe. Humbly asked God to remove these defects of character. Because I believe what people told me about alcoholism — it is a three-fold
A Different Kind of Prayer Book
My 12 &12 has become a kind of prayer book. It shows me where I’ve disconnected myself from my Power source and suggests ways to return. I realized that at a recent meeting on the Second Step. No, the chapter is
First In-Person Meeting
The Last In-Person Meeting I attended my first in-person meeting since February 21, 2020. Someone there made a serendipitous observation, given all that soon happened. I can’t think my way through trouble; I have to live through trouble and learn to
Celebrating
Celebrating A friend told me of a recorded meeting, celebrating Liz Bailey’s 62nd anniversary. SIXTY-TWO YEARS?! Yep — July 11 was Liz Bailey’s 62nd anniversary — and God willing in August she will be 93 years young! Like all good
A Dubious Equality
It’s a dubious equality that women now drink as much as men. One, because women aren’t as often drinking for pleasure. Many drink just to cope. Two, because alcohol-related illnesses catch up with women more quickly than men. For nearly
Wanting Special Privileges
Wanting special privileges is a character defect. Working the steps, especially Step 3 helps restore the sanity of staying right-sized. Because my body is not cooperating with doing little tasks I once never thought about doing, my emotions flare up,