The original article that appeared following the death of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth in 1951 A drunk is lying on a bed in a hospital, and a doctor is sitting beside the bed. The drunk is talking earnestly to the doctor. “. . .a wave of depression came over me,” the drunk is saying. “IContinue reading “Dr. Silkworth …The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks Grapevine Article May 1951 By Bill W”
Category Archives: Open Mindedness
Maintaining an Open Mind – A Spiritual Principle A Day June 7th
Our ideas about the help we need, how it’s packaged, and who delivers it can be decidedly unhelpful. Our work in Step Three can provide some useful strategies. We’re often advised to “do the footwork and leave the results to your Higher Power,” and to “pay attention to which doors are opening and which remainContinue reading “Maintaining an Open Mind – A Spiritual Principle A Day June 7th”
Drop The Rock – 3 Minute Hilarious Audio/ Transcript June 1976 Talk By Sandy B.
‘Drop the rock’ is a powerful way of imagining and working steps 6 and 7. I love Sandy B’s hilarious way of helping us see these steps more clearly in this very short, impactful talk – Bruce M. Transcript If there is anybody new here tonight—and I hope there are some new people—there’s one lastContinue reading “Drop The Rock – 3 Minute Hilarious Audio/ Transcript June 1976 Talk By Sandy B.”
You Are Accepted – Finding Our Way Home In An Age Of Anxiety June 2nd Daily Meditation By Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen is thought of as one of the greatest spiritual teachers and authors of the 20th century. I found this short extract from his book ‘Finding Our Way Home In An Age Of Anxiety’ to be relevant to the Toxic Shame and Emotional Sobriety sections of our website. I also believe the 3rd step and 7thContinue reading “You Are Accepted – Finding Our Way Home In An Age Of Anxiety June 2nd Daily Meditation By Henri Nouwen”
Thy Will, Not Mine – Grapevine Article October 1978 By C.C.
Her father’s death taught her the true meaning of acceptance FOUR WORDS have kept coming into my mind ever since I lost my father, a few short days ago. “Shall we dance, Daddy?” That’s what I often used to say to my alcoholic father to get him to bed. I couldn’t carry him, and heContinue reading “Thy Will, Not Mine – Grapevine Article October 1978 By C.C.”
Material Achievement – As Bill Sees It #40
No member of A.A. wants to deprecate material achievement. Nor do we enter into debate with the many who cling to the belief that to satisfy our basic natural desires is the main object of life. But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of tryingContinue reading “Material Achievement – As Bill Sees It #40”
Accepting Life As It Is – Interview With Pema Chödrön By Ezra Klein
My alcoholism and its personal and collateral damage evoke a lot of emotions. And yet, as I work the program and move from the bedevilments of my addiction(s) (BB p.52) to the ‘new freedom’ (BBp.84) of recovery, I have an experience of acceptance as well as conscious contact and spiritual fitness from a God ofContinue reading “Accepting Life As It Is – Interview With Pema Chödrön By Ezra Klein”
Emotional Sobriety Growing Toward Our Fullest Potential – Audio May 2026 From Dr. Allen Berger
I found this 5 minute slice of a recent YouTube from Allen Berger very helpful. You can listen and follow the complete transcript of his short talk below. This past Wednesday we read the story ‘Acceptance Was The Answer’. Buried in that story is a very important idea that is not generally recognized as aContinue reading “Emotional Sobriety Growing Toward Our Fullest Potential – Audio May 2026 From Dr. Allen Berger”
Feel, Deal, Heal – Grapevine Article By Briggs C.
A three-word phrase that he didn’t understand—until he spent some quality time in the program There are very few original thoughts in the rooms of AA, but this may be one. It was a cold November morning years ago now that I walked through the door of Dawn Patrol in Albuquerque. I wanted to beContinue reading “Feel, Deal, Heal – Grapevine Article By Briggs C.”
Using Written Dialogue To Improve Conscious Contact With Your Higher Power – Video By Robert Falconer
In our group meditation, we refer to mindfulness as this ‘wise companion’ with our goal not being to become great meditators but rather to experience this Presence in every aspect of our lives. How do we come to recognize and know this wise companion? Certainly through prayer and meditation but this article explores another pathContinue reading “Using Written Dialogue To Improve Conscious Contact With Your Higher Power – Video By Robert Falconer”