Letting go” means discipline, and joy comes through pain FOR SEVERAL years before I began my new life in AA, I taught American literature in a university. One of the writers whose work I enjoyed reading and discussing with students was Emily Dickinson, She captured in a few words the peculiar definitions of experience thatContinue reading “Paradox of Power – Grapevine Article April 1982 By D.H.”
Category Archives: Attitude
Faith Is Action – Grapevine Article May 1977 by H.I.
Act in good ways, and faith will be born of the good that happens RECENTLY, I read a newspaper article in which the writer stated that he could not, of course, will himself to believe. I smiled out of past identification. For most of my life, I tried to find the “truth” and the “meaningContinue reading “Faith Is Action – Grapevine Article May 1977 by H.I.”
Maturity, Frustration & Growth – Grapevine Article By Marvin Block, MD
A topic we often don’t discuss is the importance of how we deal with frustration and the relationship between our response to frustration to our growth and maturity in accepting life as it is. I found this short extract from a much larger Grapevine Article entitled ‘Alcoholism and Alcoholic Anonymous’ written in February 1974 quiteContinue reading “Maturity, Frustration & Growth – Grapevine Article By Marvin Block, MD”
Love – Grapevine Article September 1988 By C.C.
The longer he stays sober, the more he learns the value of passing on that inner glow I really never knew what true love was until I began my recovery in AA. My schooling in that emotion began early and led me to the conclusion that love is what creates in the attitude of aContinue reading “Love – Grapevine Article September 1988 By C.C.”
With Courage – Grapevine Article April 1991 By Ed H.
Step Four I remember feeling afraid as a kid and thinking that I was a coward–that the mere presence of fear in my life made me a coward. I did not know that one of the definitions of courage was the ability to do the right thing in spite of fear. One particular word inContinue reading “With Courage – Grapevine Article April 1991 By Ed H.”
Comradeship In Peril – As Bill Sees It #302
We A.A.’s are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to captain’s table. Unlike the feelings of the ship’s passengers, however, our joy in escape from disaster does not subside as we go our individual ways. The feeling ofContinue reading “Comradeship In Peril – As Bill Sees It #302”
Step 5 Summary – Twelve & Twelve Page 6
Step Five “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Twelve Steps deflate ego. Step Five is difficult but necessary to sobriety and peace of mind. Confession is an ancient discipline. Without fearless admission of defects, few could stay sober. What do we receive from Step Five?Continue reading “Step 5 Summary – Twelve & Twelve Page 6”
Learning From What Repeats Itself – Walk In Dry Places October 19th
The same situation… over and over Our drinking experience should have taught us that we’ll continue to repeat old destructive behaviors until we change our attitudes. In sobriety, we can take this idea a step further and apply it to other areas. If we have trouble with other people, for example, we should ask whatContinue reading “Learning From What Repeats Itself – Walk In Dry Places October 19th”
Alchemy Of Pain – Grapevine Article December 2003 By Mary J.
When I first encountered the promises on pages 83-84 of the Big Book, I wasn’t very impressed because I didn’t believe them. Members with long-term sobriety talked of them lovingly and with expressions bordering on awe. From time to time, an entire meeting centered on that reading. I got stuck on “We will not regretContinue reading “Alchemy Of Pain – Grapevine Article December 2003 By Mary J.”
The Gift Of Time – Grapevine Article June 1991 By J.J.
One alcoholic sharing his or her experience, strength, and hope with another is the heart of Alcoholics Anonymous. This month, six more AAs share their thoughts on this topic, so vital to AA’s future. I was sober about eight months when Charlie began to call. I met him at a young people’s conference. (What wasContinue reading “The Gift Of Time – Grapevine Article June 1991 By J.J.”