Releasing what was never mine to control; Embracing what is mine to enjoy.
“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.
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 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
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 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,
I am who I am . . . and that makes me valuable; not what I do, the meditation book counseled. In the context of the book, I am recovering from complexities of alcoholism, from its presence in my family
COVID-19 and Christmas 2020 Of all the posts I have written about sanity, sobriety during Christmas, I never imagined a COVID restrained celebration, or the effect it would have. Seems like the pandemic has canceled many events; but I choose
Running a marathon is a good analogy for what recovery has been. In this pandemic, however, recovery can feel like running a three-legged race, tied too often to a lame companion – habits, hang-ups and hurts that hobble my progress!
“COVID-19 is like the background noise in my head,” my friend said. Yep. Like a dull, throbbing beat; punctuated with static, it is a tune I never can quite hear – it’s just there. It’s like the sensation I identified
COVID-19 has changed so much, revealing how weak, wobbly, and wandering my faith in a power greater than me. (Step Two) Cut off from so much that is familiar in recovery, will that Power do more for me than restore