Man can live his truth, his deepest truth, but cannot speak it. –Archibald MacLeish For many, being addicts meant living double lives. There were public selves whom others knew, and private selves whom no one met. It was a compulsive world, and both sides were false. Many of us grew up in addicted families andContinue reading “Truthful Lives – Touchstone January 30th Reflection”
Category Archives: Compassion
Worshipers All – As Bill Sees It #23
We found that we had been indeed worshippers. What a state of mental goose flesh that used to bring on! Had we not variously worshipped people, sentiment, things, money, and ourselves? And then, with a better motive, had we not worshipfully beheld the sunset, the sea, or a flower? Who of us had not lovedContinue reading “Worshipers All – As Bill Sees It #23”
Eliminating Shame Through The Principles and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous by Steve K.
The word shame is derived from the Indo-European ‘skein’, which means to hide. Shame makes us want to hide from ourselves, and our peers – making shame an existentially isolating state of mind. Feeling shame makes a person dejection-based, passive, or helpless, causing the ashamed person to focus more on devaluing or condemning his entireContinue reading “Eliminating Shame Through The Principles and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous by Steve K.”
The Spiritual Angle of AA – Grapevine Article October 1955 By Rev. Samuel Shoemaker
The early A.A. got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgment of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Groups and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else.” — BILL W. IT was clear to Bill W. from the first, I take it, thatContinue reading “The Spiritual Angle of AA – Grapevine Article October 1955 By Rev. Samuel Shoemaker”
The Power Of Good – Grapevine Article April 1978 By Anonymous
I SHOULD LIKE to write a few words of encouragement to you who are unbelievers, as I am. By unbeliever, I mean you who do not take for granted that there is a transcendent God or an ultimate purpose in human existence. You need not alter your convictions or take it lying down when other members ofContinue reading “The Power Of Good – Grapevine Article April 1978 By Anonymous”
Has Singleness of Purpose Become Narrowness of Purpose? Grapevine Article May 2004 By David F.
I know the argument. Alcoholics Anonymous is for alcoholics. It’s about alcohol, it’s not about drugs. Check the pamphlets. Check the Big Book. They talk about alcohol, not drugs. People with drug problems should go to other twelve-step programs. AA is for alcoholics. I know the argument because I argued it once myself. This wasContinue reading “Has Singleness of Purpose Become Narrowness of Purpose? Grapevine Article May 2004 By David F.”
Self Esteem, Sustainability & Our Emotions – Drop The Rock – The Ripple Effect By Fred H.
When we first began working the Steps, some of us had too little self-esteem—an under-expression of a healthy, humble sense of self. Some of us had too much self-esteem—an over-expression of that same basic trait. Some of us suffered from both flaws. As we work Step Ten, part of our responsibility is to be asContinue reading “Self Esteem, Sustainability & Our Emotions – Drop The Rock – The Ripple Effect By Fred H.”
Vision Beyond Today – As Bill Sees It #317
Vision is, I think, the ability to make good estimates, both for the immediate and for the more distant future. Some might feel this sort of striving to be heresy against “One day at a time.” But that valuable principle really refers to our mental and emotional lives and means chiefly that we are notContinue reading “Vision Beyond Today – As Bill Sees It #317”
Why Alcoholics Anonymous Is Anonymous Grapevine Article January 1955 By Bill W
Tradition Eleven: Our public relations policy is based on attraction, rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films. Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities. AS never before the struggle for power, importance and wealth isContinue reading “Why Alcoholics Anonymous Is Anonymous Grapevine Article January 1955 By Bill W”
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.”