THE FIRST and most crucial Step in the recovery of any alcoholic is surrender to the fact that he or she is powerless over alcohol and that life has become unmanageable. Sounds simple enough, like most of AA’s principles. But obviously, it isn’t always easy for the active alcoholic. Thousands of AA members who areContinue reading “Surrender – Grapevine Article June 1976 By Ed C.”
Category Archives: Powerlessness
Detach With Love – Grapevine Article June 1981 By D.J.
These AAs joined Al-Anon and learned to detach with love My wife –I’ll call her Elayne–and I are both alcoholics recovering in the lifesaving program of AA. We’ve been off the sauce and off all pills, too, for over six years now. Each of us has been serious about the Steps and at times hasContinue reading “Detach With Love – Grapevine Article June 1981 By D.J.”
Happy – When We’re Free – As Bill Sees It #218
For most normal folks, drinking means release from care, boredom, and worry. It means 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. There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did andContinue reading “Happy – When We’re Free – As Bill Sees It #218”
Hope Born From Hopelessness – As Bill Sees It #217
Letter to Dr. Carl Jung: “Most conversion experiences, whatever their variety, do have a common denominator of ego collapse at depth. The individual faces an impossible dilemma. “In my case the dilemma had been created by my compulsive drinking, and the deep feeling of hopelessness had been vastly deepened by my doctor. It was deepenedContinue reading “Hope Born From Hopelessness – As Bill Sees It #217”
Winners and Whiners – Grapevine Article Oct 1994 by Gabby H.
I love the diversity of our Fellowship. I got sober in a small town blessed with three meetings a day, and I have come to appreciate that there are many kinds of meetings–the rough-and-rugged newcomer meetings, the philosophical middle-sobriety ones, and the living-in-the-solution old-timer meetings. I can usually inventory my feelings and needs, then chooseContinue reading “Winners and Whiners – Grapevine Article Oct 1994 by Gabby H.”
An Experience In Daily Living – Grapevine Article by D.W
He found that there is no panacea for living problems I WAS HAVING trouble living and was unable to ask for help. Suffering blackouts, financial ruin, and separation from my wife and child, I was sure I was insane. I felt certain the end was near but was helpless either to hasten its coming orContinue reading “An Experience In Daily Living – Grapevine Article by D.W”
Uncle Harold – Grapevine Article April 2023 by Harold I.
After years of trying, he never could mend the past with his brother. But now he can make a difference When I was three years sober, I attended a meeting where we discussed the topic, the amend you haven’t made. There it was, staring me in the face, and I really didn’t want to beContinue reading “Uncle Harold – Grapevine Article April 2023 by Harold I.”
Little Surrenders – Grapevine Article August 1982 by D.J.
Through the Seventh Step he realized that we “carry our worlds within ourselves ABOUT TWO years ago, I made a fortuitous discovery while experiencing a disturbing episode during my recovery. As a result, the Seventh Step became my tool for everyday coping and living. The emotional impact of this happening was like that of findingContinue reading “Little Surrenders – Grapevine Article August 1982 by D.J.”
Can We Choose – As Bill Sees It #4
We must never be blinded by the futile philosophy that we are just the hapless victims of our inheritance, of our life experience, and of our surroundings — that these are the sole forces that make our decisions for us. This is not the road to freedom. We have to believe that we can reallyContinue reading “Can We Choose – As Bill Sees It #4”
Will Power and Choice – As Bill Sees It #88
We A.A.’s know the futility of trying to break the drinking obsession by will power alone. However, we do know that it takes great willingness to adopt A.A.’s Twelve Steps as a way of life that can restore us to sanity. No matter how grievous the alcohol obsession, we happily find that other vital choicesContinue reading “Will Power and Choice – As Bill Sees It #88”