Will A.A. Ever Have A Personal Government – Grapevine Article January 1947 By Bill W.

The answer to this question is almost surely “no.” That is the clear verdict of our experience. To begin with, each A.A. has been an individual who, because of his alcoholism, could seldom govern himself. Nor could any other human being govern the alcoholic’s obsession to drink, his drive to have things his own way.Continue reading “Will A.A. Ever Have A Personal Government – Grapevine Article January 1947 By Bill W.”

What’s Your Song – Today’s Gift February 10th

A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song. –Joan Walsh Angling Each of us has a song to sing, just as birds do. Part of knowing who we are is appreciating our own songs. Are our songs gentle like the robins, or are we brilliant leadersContinue reading “What’s Your Song – Today’s Gift February 10th”

One Man’s Deep Dive Into The Principles Of Each Step By Herb K.

PRINCIPLES: Foundational TRUTHS: core VALUES which regulate moral behavior; guidelines and guardrails:

When I Am Among The Trees – Poem By Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,especially the willows and the honey locust,equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,they give off such hints of gladness.I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself,in which I have goodness, and discernment,and never hurry through the worldbut walkContinue reading “When I Am Among The Trees – Poem By Mary Oliver”

Living With Hope – Reflection By Henri Nouwen With An Anonymous Mediation

I think this reflection and the meditation that follows captures how powerful the principle of hope can be when we’re facing life’s PUH’s …the pain,uncertainty and hard work that Phil Stutz describes in this article. I love the distinctions Henri makes between optimism and hope … which, to me, is very consistent with the realityContinue reading “Living With Hope – Reflection By Henri Nouwen With An Anonymous Mediation”

Tis The Set Of The Sail – Poem By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I love this short poem. When first sober and very defiant in my agnosticism, I was able to find a way of relating to a Power greater than myself as breath and wind. I knew my breath was absolutely essential to my life yet something I was being given each moment of every day unceasinglyContinue reading “Tis The Set Of The Sail – Poem By Ella Wheeler Wilcox”

The Grateful Flow & Part X – Lessons For Living By Phil Stutz

I love Phil Stutz. His insights about getting us out of our comfort zone, facing our PUH … our pain, uncertainty and hard work … about the necessity of crossing PUH to find endless new possibilities and potential … the process he describes as a ‘reversal of desire’ moving from comfort and moving toward theContinue reading “The Grateful Flow & Part X – Lessons For Living By Phil Stutz”

Surviving and Thriving – Grapevine Article By Jennifer T.

A horrific accident ultimately leads her to the rooms and recovery Alcohol has always been a part of my story. I grew up in a home with an alcoholic father. I started sipping alcohol as a toddler.  My story is not unusual. At some point growing up, I went from a confident, outgoing young girlContinue reading “Surviving and Thriving – Grapevine Article By Jennifer T.”

AA Principles & Purpose Are Portable – A Spiritual Principle A Day December 12th

“Being able to focus on a primary purpose and work creatively toward it is so much part of our way of life that we may not realize how valued that is in the world at large.” Living Clean, Chapter 5, “Bridging Two Worlds” The idea that what we learn in recovery applies outside AA isContinue reading “AA Principles & Purpose Are Portable – A Spiritual Principle A Day December 12th”

Through The Darkest Days – Grapevine Article May 2005 By Roger W.

A sober decision leads to a career When I was five years sober, I was twenty-three years old and I had just been laid off from a seasonal job. I had a new wife, new child, and had put a college education on hold in order to take care of my family. I was learningContinue reading “Through The Darkest Days – Grapevine Article May 2005 By Roger W.”