A Tranquil Mind
“A tranquil mind is a prerequisite for good judgement . . .” introduces the 12 and 12’s chapter on the Ninth Step. Taking the ninth step requires good judgment — something I haven’t always used, even in recovery. The
It’s not the meetings you make; it’s the steps you take. (Heard in an AA Meeting)
Getting The Fourth Step Over With . . . Again
Getting the Fourth Step over with is easier than fretting about why I just can’t do it again; or procrastinating. The Fourth Step isn’t just a glance in the mirror to see if anything is out of place. Taking the
Keeping Recovery in the Present Tense
What’s Today’s Verb Tense? Rereading Step Ten at a recent 12 &12 meeting, I see how reminders of what I hear at meetings take on fresh usefulness —like Keep recovery in the present tense — written in red ink.
Making Amends and Personal Pronouns
Making Amends and Reordering Pronouns Who knew reordering personal pronouns could help me make amends? Reordering the pronouns in the opening sentence of my amends might make a world of difference in healing and restoring what I broke. One of the
An AA Anniversary — Who’s Counting?
I am coming up on an anniversary of the day was I finally ready to stop drinking. It’s been a while since that day – but not so long I can’t remember how I felt when I went to my
Another Question Worth Asking
A question worth asking, when you have completed the THIRD Step, is when do I take the Fourth Step. It’s also worth asking this question if you are stumbling through the maintenance Steps. When is it time to take another
A New Year’s Proverb for Readers and Us In Recovery
A Proverb for the New Year “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep rereading the last one.” I can’t remake my past, no matter how many times I rehearse certain scenes. However, I can learn
Step 12: Preparation for a New Understanding Powerlessness
Taking the 12th step in AA shows us how to work the steps again – this time with more knowledge of how dangerous and deceptive our disease is and how powerful and personal the twelve steps are, and our Higher Power
The Eleventh Step: A Safe Perch and Solid Campground
Whew . . . we are on the eleventh step! It’s a perch from whence we can see how far we’ve come, knowing that, step by step, day by day, we have more to learn, do, and be. By now,