The Faith To Believe In What Is – Grapevine Article July 1972 By J.W.

Faith must be structured in the bright light of truth as we see it THERE IS a joke which tells of God’s decision to grant a personal interview to one member of the world press. The duly elected representative departs, and all the luminaries of church, state, and the communications media gather to await hisContinue reading “The Faith To Believe In What Is – Grapevine Article July 1972 By J.W.”

The Light Of Rigorous Honesty Overcomes The Darkness Of Victimhood

I found the article below very helpful in understanding why ‘How It Works’ (BB p.58) describes rigorous honesty as a recovery demand in this way: “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honestContinue reading “The Light Of Rigorous Honesty Overcomes The Darkness Of Victimhood”

Owning Our Power – The Language Of Letting Go January 19th By Melody Beattie

There is one feeling we need to pay particular attention to in recovery: feeling victimized. We do not need to become comfortable with that feeling. How do we feel when we’ve been victimized? Helpless. Rageful. Powerless. Frustrated. Feeling victimized is dangerous. Often, it can prompt us into addictive or other compulsive behaviors. In recovery, we’reContinue reading “Owning Our Power – The Language Of Letting Go January 19th By Melody Beattie”

When Age Happens – Grapevine Article February 2026 By Anonymous

The pains of getting older are no fun. But she uses every AA tool she’s got and copes a day at a time I got sober when I was 54, and I’m not so young anymore. Aging with pain has been one of the most emotionally challenging things I’ve had to deal with in sobriety.Continue reading “When Age Happens – Grapevine Article February 2026 By Anonymous”

Relational Sponsorship – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K

In the context of 12 Step recovery “relational sponsorship” is an ongoing recovery-based relationship that supports humility, accountability, and spiritual discernment through honest dialogue rather than authority or instruction. It’s a form a sponsorship that sometimes follows an initial introduction to the 12 Steps. It’s not written anywhere within the literature of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)Continue reading “Relational Sponsorship – 12 Step Philosophy By Steve K”

If You Spot It You Got It – How We Distort Reality With The ‘Blind Spot’ Of Our Projections

This article is a good follow up to a post I entitled ‘Changing The Way We See’. The articles ‘Revolutionary! How Step 10 Suggests A Novel Response Ability When We’re Disturbed’ as well as ‘Make A U-Turn As We Seek To Understand Our Part(s) In A Disturbance’ are also quite relevant to this topic ofContinue reading “If You Spot It You Got It – How We Distort Reality With The ‘Blind Spot’ Of Our Projections”

Who Is A Member Of Alcoholics Anonymous – Grapevine Article August 1946 By Bill W.

The origins of our Third Tradition The first edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous makes this brief statement about membership: “The only requirement for membership is an honest desire to stop drinking. We are not allied with any particular faith, sect or denomination, nor do we oppose anyone. We simply wish to be helpful to those whoContinue reading “Who Is A Member Of Alcoholics Anonymous – Grapevine Article August 1946 By Bill W.”

Toward Maturity – As Bill Sees It #244

Many oldsters who have put our A.A. “booze cure” to severe but successful tests still find they often lack emotional sobriety. To attain this, we must develop real maturity and balance (which is to say, humility) in our relations with ourselves, with our fellows, and with God. *************** Let A.A. never be a closed corporation;Continue reading “Toward Maturity – As Bill Sees It #244”

Powerlessness; We Learn By Doing It Wrong March 23rd 2023 Daily Meditation By Richard Rohr

Father Richard describes the futility of trying to “fix” ourselves:  The genius of Twelve Step programs is that they situate powerlessness and surrender right where they belong—at the beginning. They teach how sin or addiction are overcome not through willpower or by control, but much more by recognizing that we are powerless to overcome them.   ForContinue reading “Powerlessness; We Learn By Doing It Wrong March 23rd 2023 Daily Meditation By Richard Rohr”

Between Stimulus And Response – Extract From Chapter 22 of Strong Ground By Brené Brown

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” – Victor Frankl I experienced one of the most disorienting experiences in my life when I got sober in 1995. I use the word disorienting because time slowed toContinue reading “Between Stimulus And Response – Extract From Chapter 22 of Strong Ground By Brené Brown”