Three months before my ninth sobriety birthday in AA, my uncle beat my grandmother to death. My family covered it up. For approximately a year following her death, I experienced a terrible emotional relapse. Filled with rage at my uncle and at AA, I could barely sit through an entire meeting. My uncle and IContinue reading “Operation Acceptance: Moving from Rage to Letting Go – Grapevine Article April 2005 by Anonymous”
Category Archives: Judgemental
An Atheist Speaks Out – Grapevine Article May 1962 by E.L.
I AM an alcoholic and an atheist. I am addressing this to those alcoholics who have had trouble with the religious overtones in the AA program. But let me state first that it depresses me to think of what life would be like without AA. It has been long on my mind to write thisContinue reading “An Atheist Speaks Out – Grapevine Article May 1962 by E.L.”
Boredom Ambushes the Unwary – Grapevine Article April 1950 by J.F.
PAGING Solomon with all his wisdom! What makes some of us take that first drink? We can get as many answers to that perennial question as there are unfortunate slipees. It has been my experience that boredom sets an emotional trap for all of us. The eager beaver in AA, full of inspirational fire and fervor, veryContinue reading “Boredom Ambushes the Unwary – Grapevine Article April 1950 by J.F.”
It Takes A Realist To Believe In Miracles – Grapevine Article February 1986 by L.O.
WHEN I FIRST JOINED the AA Fellowship, I was told that alcoholism is a disease. I could easily relate to that concept and be at home with it, for I have lived with a severe, chronic disease since infancy. At the age of sixteen months I was diagnosed at Duke University School of Endocrinology asContinue reading “It Takes A Realist To Believe In Miracles – Grapevine Article February 1986 by L.O.”
AFTER – Grapevine Article April 1989 by Anonymous
It’s a well-know AA fact that the Big Book underwent intense scrutiny and exhaustive discussion before reaching print in its final form. In fact, Bill W. often referred to himself as the referee of these “discussions” rather then the Big Book’s author. Below, excerpted from chapter five, are some examples of the changes that cameContinue reading “AFTER – Grapevine Article April 1989 by Anonymous”
The Empty Tank – Grapevine Article June 1955 by Anonymous
THE engine on my car snorted, coughed and died. I knew my wife was glaring at me. Of course, I wasn’t looking at her. I was intently studying the road dead ahead. It had suddenly become very interesting now that I couldn’t get there. The springs on the seat beside me squawked and then cameContinue reading “The Empty Tank – Grapevine Article June 1955 by Anonymous”
A Vision For You – The Problem – Big Book Page 151
For most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination. It means release from care, boredom and worry. It is joyous intimacy with friends and a feeling that life is good. But not so with us in those last days of heavy drinking. The old pleasures were gone. They were but memories. Never couldContinue reading “A Vision For You – The Problem – Big Book Page 151”
Discovering & Facing Reality – A Mashup of Two Grapevine Articles
Being honest about the reality of our lives while at the same time being open-minded and willing to respond differently to these realities is the heart and soul of recovery whether you have 2 days , 2 months , 2 years , or decades of sobriety. We also become more clear how our denials, fears,Continue reading “Discovering & Facing Reality – A Mashup of Two Grapevine Articles”
Becoming Whole – Grapevine Article June 1979 by J.M.
AFTER WE HAVE put the cork in the bottle (Step One) and unloaded the garbage (Step Five), a burden is lifted from our shoulders–a burden we have borne so long, we have come to think of it as a permanent fixture. Step Three has removed the heavy responsibility of judging others and ourselves. In short,Continue reading “Becoming Whole – Grapevine Article June 1979 by J.M.”
Regrets and Promises – Grapevine Article by Howard M
An AA considers how an alcoholic can come to accept the past for what was At a meeting last week, I heard a man with over 10 years sober speak. He made a comment that he still had a hard time with the concept of not regretting the past. He still felt badly about someContinue reading “Regrets and Promises – Grapevine Article by Howard M”