Alcoholics Anonymous

by Alcoholics Anonymous

Cure for the High cost of Low living.

Texts 2017.03.30 thru 09.29 A.A. Anonymous People - movie Chris Herren - Unguarded Newcomer women: get them after they stop shaking and before they get a sponsor. No Single Fact Can be Considered in isolation. Everything hangs together. The secret to change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new. -Socrates Alcohol ruined me financially and morally, broke my heart and the hearts of too many others. Even though it did this to me & nearly killed me, I have not had to drink in over three years now...I sometimes think and wonder if I could get away with having a drink or two and be OK somehow. I subscribe to the notion alcoholism is a mental illness, because thinking in this manner is clearly insane. 2017.03.30 W.A.I.T.=Why Am I Talking? If there is no solution in your sharing, through strength, experience and hope... then why are you talking? Sharing every single meeting is for those who love the sound of their own voices and are sharing just for themselves. There are old timers who think they NEED to share every meeting. Not true at all... just because you have time, does not qualify you to speak on every little subject. Yes, you may be sober. You... do not necessarily have solution. Most times you sound like a self righteous blow hard. 2017.Apr.15 I have come to realize the only way to avoid falling into old behaviors is to live my life openly & honestly. I must be true to my past, to others and most importantly... myself. 2017.May.07 It is because people are vain and self centered, by human nature, that they must believe in a higher power. Some people need to believe there is a purpose, a reason for their life... And that some divine, higher power loves them and takes care of them. That is because their mommy does not and they need some sort of security blanket to let them think everything is gonna be alright. It is a farce...a ploy...a gambit. And, no one is able to prove... nor disprove... the existence of GOD... or a higher power. I choose to believe in people, regardless of their beliefs, to find my inner peace. I choose MYSELF. Because even if there is a god, and I know there is not, I still have to do all the work on my own. God is just a "safe" substitute for the drug of your choice... another addiction. 2017.May.11 Humility is not thinking less of yourself...It is thinking of yourself less... 2017.May.11 Getting in a hurry is a great way to stumble in your program. 2017.May.12 Learning to live means learning to keep ourselves in the present. This day is all we really have to work with. Of course, today will be influenced by what has already happened; and it's influence will extend into tomorrow, next week and beyond. We all can make do with what lies here, within this window of space and time. May my supper be contentment. I will breakfast on hope again tomorrow. 2017.May.15 The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration sms fear (pg145). The tools I use to quell these enemies are meetings, the book, steps and the fellowship. 2017.May.22 Remember... what may be an acceptable compromise for one, might not be acceptable for you. Know your limits...Know your values... And, be aware of the dangers which could come from compromising either. 2017.May.27 In the rooms of A.A., it has been said, "We are only as sick as the secrets we keep." Every secret we tell someone affords us a new opportunity for growth. Sharing experiences relieves us of our shame and invites the forgiveness we must allow ourselves. Never can we be fully at peace with secrets left untold. 2017.06.02 Fear and despair bring out the Devine in humans. We are taught otherwise, but divinity can only be recognized in the heart and mind. The universe in all its astronomical darkness and multitude, can never be defined by anything other than the observer. Therefore, only the observer can make it Devine. Despite overwhelming odds, it is in human nature to survive. Survive no matter what perils life throws at us. In humanity is divinity. -Jonny A. 2017.06.06 Be brave even if you are not, just pretend...no one can tell the difference. The quieter you become, the more you hear. There is no battle greater than the one fought between our own ears. We win or lose depending on our own perception of our own decisions. 2017.06.19 Jonny A. Keeping it simple is far easier said than done. The most important thing sometimes is the thing most easily forgotten sometimes. 2017.06.21 Jonny A. Always try things you are incapable of. More oft than not, you find it was all in your head. 2017.06.21 Jonny A. The person who never made a mistake...never made anything at all. 2017.06.21 Every day is a chance to change my life. I stay motivated & true to the course. I AM sober today. And, that just may be enough. 2017.07.11 Sobriety is an integral part of both my growth and enjoyment of life. If I stay sober, one day at a time, I can guarantee a certain amount of growth and the possibility of a joyous life. 2017.07.12 There is a whole heap of "real estate" between my ears. The only paradise I'm concerned with is that which is found within that acreage and the serenity in my heart. 2017.07.12 "In all our affairs." If you want to make others happy, practice compassion... If you want to be happy, practice compassion. 2017.07.13 My happiness in life depends upon these basic essentials: something to do, something to love and something to hope for. 2017.07.15 Everything we learn... enhances our life. As we learn humility...we also learn not to accept pain from others. Other people's actions do not hurt us unless we choose to allow them. 2017.07.17 Giving instills compassion, love and empathy...all of which lead to gratitude and humility. Love you friend. Terrific Tuesday To Thee 2017.07.18 Every experience we have involves others who may also need what those experiences may teach. To truly heal from pain, you must have someone to help you alleviate the burdens of the hurt. To receive the full value of joy and happiness, you must have someone else to divide and share it with. 2017.07.20 Today... I'll look beyond the faults of others and concentrate on recognizing my own. 2017.07.21 Sometimes The most useful lessons are the ones not understood as presented. Any situation I am involved in today is a guaranteed offer for growth. I just have to recognize it. 2017.07.25 In humans, criticism is second nature... especially on ourselves. Most of us are unsatisfied with anything not approaching perfection... doing us a grave injustice. So I can either be self critical or self appreciative. MY choice determines the outcome of my day. I choose to be happy. 2017.08.01 The sun is up. I'm willing and able. I have a smile on my face and in my heart. Today will be an awesome day. 2017.08.01 We give a piece of ourselves w/every friendship we choose to nurture. Giving more than you take...assures you come out ahead, always. 2017.08.02 If it is my choice... And I choose to believe there is NO god... By definition: How could I be wrong? 2017.08.14 A fit, healthy body with a good heart must be twice as beneficial then. And, a good amount of self cherishing, not conceit and utter adoration, is good for a healthy mind and heart. 2017.08.28 There is no better cure for the blues than a friend like you. Well... grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup work pretty good too, but you are the best. 2017.09.11 It's the program keeping me focused, but it's my friends who help me walk like a man again. It's the combination of both that make me happy, joyous and free. 2017.09.11 Happiness is an emotion vast and wide as the ocean. And, as such, it depends upon the tides of your mind. 2o17.09.12 Atonement requires more than simple apologies. It also requires gratitude, sincerity and love. 2017.09.18 We are asked daily to make our contribution to this thing we call life. No one is without capability. Whether it's humor, settling dispute, reading to a friend or even cutting a child's hair... our talents define us. They affirm we count. I...Am willing to participate fully in the life around me today... Are you? 2017.09.19 Your gratefulness needs to escape somewhere from your body... your smile is that escape. 2017.09.20 Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. Lyndon B. Johnson Don't look for the standard to follow. Become the the one people admire and want to learn from. 2017.09.21 Sobriety is a challenge. It challenges you to be the best person you can be everyday.... for everyone around you and especially yourself. These challenges make you grateful, hence, solidifying your serenity. 2017.09.22 Why is the belief in god and/or higher power in the program of alcoholics anonymous and all other 12 step programs? It is my belief Bill W. and the others who penned the big book, whether they truly believed or not, needed a scapegoat. "Gave their will to god" and "thy will be done" are common amongst AAers. This allows people to not be accountable to themselves. When they go out again they can say, "I guess it was God's plan" or "it wasn't my time yet" etc, etc, etc... I am accountable to myself first and to the fellowship second. If I do not do the work, I am not able to help myself, let alone, the next alcoholic. I admitted my addiction was the result of choices I made in the past and I could make better ones today and tomorrow. I understand the only thing in this world I can control is my actions and reactions. I do not need a scapegoat or anyone to lay blame on. I hold myself accountable and take responsibility. I do not allow my ego to obstruct progress and am willing to take constructive feedback... in order to become a better person. 2017.09.25 The trick is... Combine your waking rational abilities... With the Infinite Possibilities of your Dreams... If you can do that... You can do anything.... Watch your thoughts for they become words, Watch your words for they become your actions, Watch your actions for they become habits, Watch your habits for they become your character, Watch your character for it becomes your DESTINY.... 2017.09.20 I'm very happy it is working for you. And hope it continues. I'm not trying to convert anyone here... Unlike what every traditional A.A. person tries to do to me and other athiest alcoholics. Fact of the matter is, I've actually never met a single Athiest Alcoholic that has gone out after honestly working the steps, as an athiest and not trying to be something they can never be. All I know for sure is... A person can stay sober with a higher power, a person can stay sober without a higher power... But a person cannot stay sober if he is trying to be the higher power. 2017.09.26 What you see in the heart of others may be pure or ugly. What you turn it into is all that matters. Don't be a victim of what you see. Be the person YOU want to be. 2017. 09. 29. Texts 2017.10.01 thru 10.31 A moment of reflection and a deep breath may keep me from abusing the liberties of others. Not all things need to be said aloud. 2017.10.06 When we come to understand life is sacred... We will KNOW Love... We will know our family, friends, nature, even or enemies... But most of all... We will know ourselves. We will know peace and serenity and a oneness with the universe. So look around... Find what makes you happy and hold on to it. 2017.10.13 don't let your imagination run wild all the time... realize what is real and what is not... because if you don't, reality will bite you in the ass. 2017.10.14 I have to consciously think about the 6th & 7th Steps in order to get out of my own way... In order to not let my ego take over my day. This allows me to take constructive and honest criticism and put it to good use in my life/program. 2017.10.22 If you do not get what you want, it is a sign...either you did not seriously want it, or you attempted to haggle over the price. 2017.10.24 A little knowledge opens many doors. Regurgitation of information is not knowledge. Knowledge is taking the information you have obtained and being able to put it to use by making it your own. 2017.10.24 There is no greater roadblock or impediment to bring in good terms with others than being in bad terms with yourself. Help yourself first to be able to be of service to others. 2017.10.31 What you perceive is only how you see things. How you interpret and use those perceptive is what eventually becomes your beliefs. 2017.10.31

we who have suffered alcoholic torture must believe—that the body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind. It did not satisfy us to be told that we could not control our drinking just because we were maladjusted to life, that we were in full flight from reality, or were outright mental defectives.

altruistic

paramount importance

Indeed and then some

moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its application presented difficulties beyond our conception.

They believe in themselves,

their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves, if they are to re-create their lives.

Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol. The sensation is so elusive that, while they admit it is injurious, they cannot after a time differentiate the true from the false. To them, their alcoholic life seems the only normal one. They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks—drinks which they see others taking with impunity. After they have succumbed to the desire again, as so many do, and the phenomenon of craving develops, they pass through the well-known stages of a spree, emerging remorseful, with a firm resolution not to drink again. This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery.

They are over-remorseful and make many resolutions, but never a decision.

maelstrom

A violent or turbulent situation

remonstrances

WE AGNOSTICS

In “We Agnostics” Bill W. wrote with conviction, asserting his truths, his undeniable truths. He wrote as if he had knowledge and experience enough to opine for all who do not believe in a “God as we understood Him.” He wrote, as he understood his mission, for all nonbelievers, all agnostics, atheists, freethinkers, secularists, etc. The truth is, no one speaks for or writes for such a diverse collection of thoughtful men and women. We are able to speak for ourselves. We speak for ourselves. Bill’s lack of understanding, misunderstanding, and personal biases cry out for a critique; it begs for a dialogue, a critical exploration of ideas and experiences. People seeking recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous who have difficulty with “the God stuff” because they are struggling with doubts, people who are firmly comfortable with no God or are somewhere in between, deserve a chapter which demonstrates their journey more clearly and humanely. Additionally, theists in Alcoholics Anonymous deserve and need a chapter which helps them understand we nonbelievers among them as fellow alcoholics and AA members, not as conversion targets or enemies to be avoided or cast out. I find “We Agnostics” an insulting mishmash. It is inaccurate. It misleads. It clearly confuses theists who read it into believing that recovery leads to and requires belief in God. This is most likely the result of Bill Wilson’s personal beliefs and experiences and obviously not from his interactions with Jim Burwell, Hank Parkhurst and any other nonbelievers who became sober in early Alcoholics Anonymous. “We Agnostics” can lead many theistic members to the conclusion that they are charged with the responsibility of converting we poor besotted nonbelievers to salvation, to sobriety, to God. A Few Examples Only sixty-three words into the chapter the reader is greeted with these words about alcoholism, “an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.” These nine words set the tone for the message which Bill Wilson puts forth in “We Agnostics.” Unfortunately, “spiritual” is associated with the divine, the supernatural, by many people and thus with God and religion. Alcoholics Anonymous maintains that it is “spiritual, not religious.” Unfortunately, for much of the population, that distinction is meaningless, since “spiritual” is associated with religious experiences and the presence of group prayers opening and closing many AA meetings is patently religious. Bill Wilson’s philosophical foundation concerning nonbelievers coming to belief manifests itself in the sixth paragraph where he references “the book” (aka Alcoholics Anonymous) and states that “it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God.” While his openness and direct statement is commendable, it does set the focus on God, leaving little room for nonbelievers. Just a few paragraphs later, Bill references “a Power greater than ourselves” and ends the paragraph with “that Power, which is God.” The Power “greater than ourselves” is clearly linked to the divine, with God. This makes the case that Step Two has retained its link to “God” rather than to some secular “power.” It should be no wonder then why non-theists need to rewrite the Steps for themselves and their values. Later Bill argues that it is a form of mental perversion, “a perverse streak” as he put it, to argue against the “perfectly logical assumption” of an “All Powerful, Guiding, Creative Intelligence.” That may have been Wilson’s personal conviction but it certainly doesn’t match the understanding or experience of the agnostics and atheists that I have come to know and respect. It should not be surprising that members who read these sort of things in the “Conference-approved” Big Book are led to view non-theist members as perverse, mistaken, and subjects for salvation or rejection. A careful reading of “We Agnostics” for reference to atheists or agnostics who gain and maintain sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous without a Power or a God will be a futile effort. Bill does not, could not, give a clear example of a purely secular recovery, so strong was his conversion to theism. The fact that, in the early 21st Century, there are a growing number of secular meetings for non-theist members offers proof that secular sobriety is a fact. And, that a new chapter for nonbelievers needs to be written into Conference-approved literature. (The present “We Agnostics” could be retained with a footnote directing the reader to an updated chapter recognizing non-theists successfully sober in AA without God.) What is a theist member expected to think when confronted with this complete sentence, “People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about”? If “faith” is belief without proof, the sentence makes no sense. Where is the logic? Associated with religious faith, it mocks those about whom the chapter speaks. Many theists/believers suppose or assume a chapter titled “We Agnostics” is for nonbelievers just as “To Wives” is for the female spouse of the alcoholic. And so they do not read it, much less reflect on it. Those who do, are bound to come away with the conviction that sobriety through the program brings belief in God. They are likely to gain a jaded understanding of nonbelievers and, based on this chapter, view sincere nonbelievers in AA as not “getting it” or as not “real” alcoholics. The vitriolic Minority Opinion of the Mt. Rainier group and anonymous “White Paper” are examples of this viewpoint. By writing, “We have shared (the) honest doubt and prejudice” of the agnostic alcoholic (emphasis added), Bill speaks of prejudice directed against a Higher Power. His empathy is with those going through sincere (honest) doubts and ultimately conquer that doubt. Nowhere does he acknowledge the prejudice nonbelievers are subjected to by theists in Alcoholics Anonymous; prejudice evidenced by catch phrases like, “I came, came to, came to believe,” “keep coming” (and you too will believe implied), and “believe that I believe.” Worse yet the silly suggestions to make anything your higher power including a chair or a doorknob. At least until you are blessed by God, with a capital “G”. In the same paragraph, in almost a throw-away line, Bill offers a proof of a “Supreme Being” with, “Who, then, made all this?” This error of logic, the argument from ignorance (“I can’t think of a cause so it must be God”) was unacceptable even when Bill used it. Sadly, it can be heard in meeting rooms throughout Alcoholics Anonymous to this day. I'm very happy it is working for you. And hope it continues. I'm not trying to convert anyone here... Unlike what every traditional A.A. person tries to do to me and other athiest alcoholics. Fact of the matter is, I've actually never met a single Athiest Alcoholic that has gone out after honestly working the steps, as an athiest and not trying to be something they can never be. All I know for sure is... A person can stay sober with a higher power, a person can stay sober without a higher power... But a person cannot stay sober if he is trying to be the higher power.

I am an atheist and I'm happy, balanced, moral and intellectually fulfilled. I am not the most important thing in the universe. On the contrary, I believe I am among the least important, the smallest. Cosmically speaking, I barely exist. In fact, I believe I exist at random, but I do not exist alone. My entire function in this world is to give what I can to the other existing things on this planet. Miracles happen every day. I am one of them and so are you. But, the delusion there is an all powerful, supernatural, sentient deity responsible for these miracles or required to make sense of them is, to me, nonsense. In fact, the very thought denigrates and belittles my own innate capacity for transformation, improvement and positive change. I can only be true to myself one day at a time. I believe the most important principle in AA is humility. The recognition we are flawed, we can and must change, and our purpose not only in sobriety, but in life, is to be of service to others. No Where In The Big Book - The Lord's Prayer recited at the end of meetings. - Celebration of continously sobriety...despite an emphasis of One Day At A Time. - Sponsors in AA. These are all potentially good, healthy formats of conducting an AA meeting because they establish and create routines and precedent for doing things, which is crucial to the recovering alcoholic. And, the 12 traditions keep the members in check, as much as they can keep in check a group of millions not calling itself an organization. So why is it difficult for fundamentalist AA members to accept the fact that an Atheist can be successful in Alcoholics Anonymous? My ambiguity about my own beliefs is what is helping me to recover and stay sober. One Day At A Time. My problem is not my lack of a higher power, nor the lack of the desire to find one. My problem is alcohol...cunning, baffling, powerful. There is only one requirement for AA membership, the desire to stop drinking. In a 1957 Grapevine article, Bill Wilson wrote, "We must remember that A.A.'s Steps are suggestions only. A belief in them, as they stand, is not at all a requirement for membership among us. This liberty has made A.A. available to thousands who would never have tried at all had we insisted on the 12 Steps just as written. " I'm very happy it is working for you. And hope it continues. I'm not trying to convert anyone here... Unlike what every traditional A.A. person tries to do to me and other athiest alcoholics. Fact of the matter is, I've actually never met a single Athiest Alcoholic that has gone out after honestly working the steps, as an athiest and not trying to be something they can never be. All I know for sure is... A person can stay sober with a higher power, a person can stay sober without a higher power... But a person cannot stay sober if he is trying to be the higher power

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

The 12 Steps - A Secular Form 1. Admitted we were powerless over alcohol...our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to understand by admitting our addictions for the result of choices we made in the past, we could make better choices today and tomorrow. 3. Came to understand the only thing in this world we can control is our actions and our reactions. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Came to understand the only way to avoid falling into old behaviors is to live our lives openly and honestly, being true to ourselves, our pasts, and others. 6. Came to understand our own feelings and shortcomings led us to become addicts...and we must become better people by examining those failings and work to correct them. 7. Came to understand our behaviors affect others, and if we wish to improve ourselves, we must be open to accepting the honest feedback and criticism of others, without letting our ego get in the way. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people, wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. 11. Having sought self-awareness and mindfulness through meditation and quiet contemplation, we seek insight and understanding of what we ought to do and the courage and integrity to do it. 12. Came to understand these steps are simply tools we used to help ourselves, and anyone can also apply these tools to help themselves. We will carry this message to other alcoholics and practice these principles in all our affairs.

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

These will save your life.

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God rem...

harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Having had a spiritual awakening as the r...

read this book

This appears as the first 3 word on page 112 in the print version of the Alcoholics Anonymous book.

This work is necessary to maintain his sobriety.

fired.

Fire... As in starting a engine. Whole new meaning... Wow.

give of yourself that others may survive and rediscover life.

Awesome and profound

ah—yes, those other alcoholics?

Painfully aware of being somehow abnormal, the man did not fully realize what it meant to be alcoholic.7

Who, in the midst of our disease, can realize this?

no amount of will

p...

could stop his drinking...

the price see...

Until you realize the benefits could outweigh the consequences.

first class alcoholic prospect.

prospect

Bill D.

He has helped other men recover,

Giving back.

they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary.

intolerance of

any kind,

Bullshit. ie: the secular alcoholic.

Wherever I go... There I am!

Our book is meant to be suggestive

only.

It's like when you jump out of an airplane... It's suggested you pull the ripcord on your parachute.

The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got.

Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. May God bless you and keep you—until then.

No thanks.