Darkness Visible – Grapevine Article by Toby M.

His alcoholism and bipolar disorder conspired to keep him in some fearful places My drinking started when I was 17 years old. Some friends and I got hold of some liquor and beer, which we drank in the back of my friend’s truck bed. We sat drinking and smoking cigarettes. Everyone was getting pretty drunkContinue reading “Darkness Visible – Grapevine Article by Toby M.”

Starting My Day – Grapevine Article March 2023 By Paul M.

He learned that a good day of service can begin with a well-made bed When I was a boy, my mother insisted that I make my bed every morning. Well, I didn’t want to since I was just going to mess it up again that night. Many years later, when I started going in andContinue reading “Starting My Day – Grapevine Article March 2023 By Paul M.”

Elder Statesman Without A Country – Grapevine Article February 1983 by B.B.

When he stopped working the Steps, he was an AFTER FOURTEEN and a half years of sobriety, I found myself in an all too familiar place: tired of living, bored with AA meetings, full of self-pity, and wondering, “Is this all there is?” I had been very active in AA in the early years–secretary, chairmanContinue reading “Elder Statesman Without A Country – Grapevine Article February 1983 by B.B.”

Difficulty Reveals Character – Grapevine Article October 2021 by Ron B.

A member shares some powerful thoughts about AA’s patience, resilience and creativity during COVID-19 When I first read Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions with my sponsor some 10 years ago, I was struck by Bill W.’s description of AA members in the armed forces during World War II. Even though they were far from homeContinue reading “Difficulty Reveals Character – Grapevine Article October 2021 by Ron B.”

Hidden Strength – Grapevine Article February 1997 by Donna G.

Solutions in Sobriety Getting through each sober day is an extra challenge for me. I was first diagnosed with an incurable arthritic condition when I was forty years old and sober a few years. At first the doctor told me that my case was mild, but over the years the physical pain and discomfort hasContinue reading “Hidden Strength – Grapevine Article February 1997 by Donna G.”

Learning To Feel – Grapevine Article February 2023 by Laura S.

Early in my sobriety, my sponsor Linda told me that I was allowed to call and whine about a situation exactly once. After that, we were going to talk about solutions, not problems. She also gave me a time limit on feeling sorry for myself. I can’t remember if it was 10 minutes or 15Continue reading “Learning To Feel – Grapevine Article February 2023 by Laura S.”

Anchored In The Present – Jan 10th Reflection From Courage to Change

“The past has flown away. The coming month and year do not exist. Ours only is the present’s tiny point.” – Mahmoud Shabistari I suspect that if I reclaimed all the minutes, hours, and days I’ve sacrificed to worry and fear, I’d add years to my life. When I succumb to worry, I open aContinue reading “Anchored In The Present – Jan 10th Reflection From Courage to Change”

How Important Is It Really – Practice These Principles Reflection by Ray A.

When I became president of my condo association, I started to notice that some neighbors were not particularly neighborly. People would do things like put their garbage outside their door and leave it there for hours before taking it down and depositing it in the dumpster. They would hang their doormat to dry on theContinue reading “How Important Is It Really – Practice These Principles Reflection by Ray A.”

Living In Today – Daily Reflections December 31st

The idea of “twenty-four-hour living” applies primarily to the emotional life of the individual. Emotionally speaking, we must not live in yesterday, nor in tomorrow. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 284 A New Year: 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes — a time to consider directions, goals, and actions. I mustContinue reading “Living In Today – Daily Reflections December 31st”

No Struggle Is Really New – Each Day A New Beginning – December 14th

A theme may seem to have been put aside, but it keeps returning–the same thing modulated, somewhat changed in form.-Muriel Rukeyser No struggle we have is really new. It’s another shade of the struggle that plagued us last week or perhaps last year. And we’ll stumble again and again until we learn to quit struggling.Continue reading “No Struggle Is Really New – Each Day A New Beginning – December 14th”