A NEW THOUGHT has been forming in my mind (now that the AA program has put it in working order). I believe that an element most important in building our sober lives is what is left out. Several months ago, my husband and I enrolled in a beginners’ art course. We didn’t become great painters,Continue reading “Growth – Grapevine Article June 1976 By Tricia J.”
Category Archives: Forgiveness
Become Willing To Heal – Journey To The Heart March 16th
We don’t open our hearts by being a tower of strength. We don’t open our hearts by glossing over things in our head. We open our hearts by feeling what we feel. We open our hearts by being vulnerable, honest, and gentle. We’ve become so strong, so self-sufficient. I can deal with that we say.Continue reading “Become Willing To Heal – Journey To The Heart March 16th”
‘Let It Go’ To ‘Let It Be’ – Language Of Letting Go March 10th Melodie Beattie
Life is a series of letting go’s– an “infinite” series of letting go’s. All things in life are given us on loan. Stand face-to-face with life, learn to let go, and whatever comes our way– success or failure, joy or sorrow, support or betrayal, light or darkness– it all blesses us. Once we have learnedContinue reading “‘Let It Go’ To ‘Let It Be’ – Language Of Letting Go March 10th Melodie Beattie”
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”
Welcome Criticism – As Bill Sees It #326
Thanks much for your letter of criticism. I’m certain that had it not been for its strong critics, A.A. would have made slower progress. For myself, I have come to set a high value on the people who have criticized me, whether they have seemed reasonable critics or unreasonable ones. Both have often restrained meContinue reading “Welcome Criticism – As Bill Sees It #326”
No One Will Know – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Matt M.
While working on a construction site with some AA buddies, he had a close call he won’t soon forget A few years back, my 10-year AA anniversary was approaching. At that time, I was working a good program, going to my regular meetings and my home group. I touched base with my sponsor and workedContinue reading “No One Will Know – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Matt M.”
Mastering Resentments – As Bill Sees It #286
We began to see that the world and its people had really dominated us. Under that unhappy condition, the wrongdoing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill us, because we could be driven back to drink through resentment. We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how? We could not wishContinue reading “Mastering Resentments – As Bill Sees It #286”
Peace With The Past – Language Of Letting Go September 25th
Today I choose to build a pathway to freedom from the bondage of self. –Ruth Fishel Holding on to the past, either through guilt, longing, denial, or resentment, is a waste of valuable energy – energy that can be used to transform today and tomorrow. “I used to live in my past,” said one recoveringContinue reading “Peace With The Past – Language Of Letting Go September 25th”
Distilled Spirits – Grapevine Article February 1998 By Charlie M.
As a newcomer to AA, I often sat in meetings and wondered about the Steps, the Traditions, sponsorship, the Big Book. Would I ever understand? But I was able to relate to the simple truths I heard in meetings each day. When I was a year sober, I “took a cake,” as we say inContinue reading “Distilled Spirits – Grapevine Article February 1998 By Charlie M.”