I found the article below from Lucy Lopez very helpful in touching upon what Bill W. describes as the theme of the 12th step … the joy of living. In the Twelve & Twelve on page 107, Bill W says that life is ‘not to be endured or mastered’. He goes on to say thatContinue reading “What Does It Mean To Participate More Fully In Life? Mashup With Various GUGOGS Resources and The Essay ‘Your Life Is Not Your Private Project’ By Lucy Lopez”
Author Archives: Bruce McPherson
Acceptance vs. Denial By Michael P
“Acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today.” That’s what it says on page 417 of the AA Big Book, but when I was first getting sober, I found that suggestion de very difficult to accept. Fortunately, my sponsor explained that “acceptance” was not the same as “approval” – we aren’t saying weContinue reading “Acceptance vs. Denial By Michael P”
Changing Motives – Just For Today June 10th
As we examine our beliefs, our actions, and our motives in recovery, we’ll find that sometimes we do things for the wrong reasons. In our early recovery, we may have spent a great deal of money and time on people, wanting only for them to like us. Later on, we may find that we stillContinue reading “Changing Motives – Just For Today June 10th”
Dr. Silkworth …The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks Grapevine Article May 1951 By Bill W
The original article that appeared following the death of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth in 1951 A drunk is lying on a bed in a hospital, and a doctor is sitting beside the bed. The drunk is talking earnestly to the doctor. “. . .a wave of depression came over me,” the drunk is saying. “IContinue reading “Dr. Silkworth …The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks Grapevine Article May 1951 By Bill W”
Caught In Hateland – Grapevine Article December 1966 By R.A.S
An AA once trapped by resentments offers a guide to the way out DURING my drinking years I was a general all-around expert on all subjects. Now I feel that my experience qualifies me as an expert on only two, resentments and rationalizations. Although there is a relationship between them, since resentments are developed againstContinue reading “Caught In Hateland – Grapevine Article December 1966 By R.A.S”
Maintaining an Open Mind – A Spiritual Principle A Day June 7th
Our ideas about the help we need, how it’s packaged, and who delivers it can be decidedly unhelpful. Our work in Step Three can provide some useful strategies. We’re often advised to “do the footwork and leave the results to your Higher Power,” and to “pay attention to which doors are opening and which remainContinue reading “Maintaining an Open Mind – A Spiritual Principle A Day June 7th”
A Death In The Family – Grapevine Article November 2009 By Martha S.
A home group becomes a community when an anchor of the meeting dies Most of us who are regular members of an AA group feel ourselves to be a part of a community cemented together by common desperation–to paraphrase the Big Book, like passengers from a sunken ship who find themselves in a lifeboat onContinue reading “A Death In The Family – Grapevine Article November 2009 By Martha S.”
Valuing Self-Acceptance over Validation – A Spiritual Principle A Day June 5th
For many of us, needing others’ approval–or seeking validation–is perched near the top of our character defects list. We have lived in constant fear of making the wrong choices and others knowing our faults, weaknesses, and mistakes. We did everything we could to avoid being judged and actively, sometimes obsessively, sought others to tell usContinue reading “Valuing Self-Acceptance over Validation – A Spiritual Principle A Day June 5th”
You Are Not The Center Of The World – Extract Chapter 36 From ‘The Courage To Be Disliked’ By Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
PHILOSOPHER: Let’s go over things in order. First of all, each of us is a member of a community, and that is where we belong. Feeling that one has one’s own place of refuge within the community, feeling that “it’s okay to be here,” and having a sense of belonging—these are basic human desires. WhetherContinue reading “You Are Not The Center Of The World – Extract Chapter 36 From ‘The Courage To Be Disliked’ By Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga “
Drop The Rock – 3 Minute Hilarious Audio/ Transcript June 1976 Talk By Sandy B.
‘Drop the rock’ is a powerful way of imagining and working steps 6 and 7. I love Sandy B’s hilarious way of helping us see these steps more clearly in this very short, impactful talk – Bruce M. Transcript If there is anybody new here tonight—and I hope there are some new people—there’s one lastContinue reading “Drop The Rock – 3 Minute Hilarious Audio/ Transcript June 1976 Talk By Sandy B.”