One of the greatest benefits of sobriety. . . AA HAS brought me numerous gifts in addition to sobriety, but all of them pivot about that one central necessity for the alcoholic: to gain and maintain sobriety. Without that I would again lose my direction and my identity and revert to a weary wanderer inContinue reading “Choice Regained – Grapevine Article July 1961 By V.W.”
Category Archives: Change
The Shape Of Things To Come – Grapevine Article February 1961 By Bill W.
AA’s FIRST quarter-century is now history. Our next twenty-five years lie in prospect before us. How, then, can we make the most of this new grant of time? Perhaps our very first realization should be that we can’t stand still. Now that our basic principles seem established, now that our functioning is fairly effective andContinue reading “The Shape Of Things To Come – Grapevine Article February 1961 By Bill W.”
Instinct To Love – As Bill Sees It #246
When men and women pour so much alcohol into themselves that they destroy their lives, they commit a most unnatural act. Defying their instinctive desire for self-preservation, they seem bent upon self-destruction. They work against their own deepest instinct. As they are progressively humbled by the terrific beating administered by alcohol, the grace of GodContinue reading “Instinct To Love – As Bill Sees It #246”
When And How To Give – As Bill Sees It #239
Men who cry for money and shelter as a condition of their sobriety are on the wrong track. Yet we sometimes do provide a new prospect with these very things–when it becomes clear that he is willing to place his recovery first. It is not whether we shall give that is the question, but whenContinue reading “When And How To Give – As Bill Sees It #239”
Detach With Love – Grapevine Article June 1981 By D.J.
These AAs joined Al-Anon and learned to detach with love My wife –I’ll call her Elayne–and I are both alcoholics recovering in the lifesaving program of AA. We’ve been off the sauce and off all pills, too, for over six years now. Each of us has been serious about the Steps and at times hasContinue reading “Detach With Love – Grapevine Article June 1981 By D.J.”
‘The Keys Of The Kingdom’ Concluding Paragraphs Big Book pages 275-276
AA is not a plan for recovery that can be finished and done with. It is a way of life, and the challenge contained in its principles is great enough to keep any human being striving for as long as he lives. We do not, cannot, outgrow this plan. As arrested alcoholics, we must haveContinue reading “‘The Keys Of The Kingdom’ Concluding Paragraphs Big Book pages 275-276”
An Unexpected Shot At Life – Grapevine Article July 1992 By Bob P.
“I hereby sentence you to six years in the custody of the Department of Corrections,” said the judge on the morning of my 108th day of sobriety. Those 108 days were what made it possible for me to show up in the courtroom that morning, knowing I’d be sitting in a cell that night. WithoutContinue reading “An Unexpected Shot At Life – Grapevine Article July 1992 By Bob P.”
The Good Within Our Enemy – Grapevine Article August 1973 by A.G. Decatur, GA
Where there is hatred let me sow love. . .” – Forgiveness comes when we love and bless the Power that flows through each of us I ALWAYS thought “Forgive and forget” was a beautiful maxim. But I expected others to live up to it, while I gave it only lip service. So, for nearly six yearsContinue reading “The Good Within Our Enemy – Grapevine Article August 1973 by A.G. Decatur, GA”
Defects And Repairs – As Bill Sees It #140
More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character. This is the one he likes his fellows to see. He wants to enjoy a certain reputation, but knows in his heart he doesn’t deserve it. << << << >>Continue reading “Defects And Repairs – As Bill Sees It #140”
I Blamed God – Grapevine Article September 2002 by Mark G.
It was a lot easier than blaming myself Okay, resentments. It’s not because I’m in prison. It’s not my family, who can have a few drinks and quit just like that. It’s not even about my wife and children not writing me as much as I’d like them to. I want to make my amends and changeContinue reading “I Blamed God – Grapevine Article September 2002 by Mark G.”