STEP 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” This would have been a perfect epitaph for my headstone if my drinking had killed me before I got to AA. It was something I was constantly told; it was a feeling about myself that, although I didn’t likeContinue reading “An Alcoholic and a Child of God – Grapevine Article July 1995 By Rick D.”
Category Archives: Secrets
Where’s My Reward ? – Grapevine Article September 2005 By Christine P.
Sober twelve years, an AA wonders when she’ll get the big pay-off This coming October will mark my twelfth year of sobriety, but even with the passage of time, the inner demons of the alcoholic mind don’t roll over and die that easily. As my AA birthday draws near, a lot of old stuff hasContinue reading “Where’s My Reward ? – Grapevine Article September 2005 By Christine P.”
What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger
There are many powerful forces at work in our lives in relation to our personal development, but some of the most significant ones are the desires to be loved, to be accepted, and to feel that we belong. Take a moment to think about the importance of those desires in your current life. Can youContinue reading “What Anxiety And Rigorous Honesty Have To Teach Us? 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety By Dr. Allen Berger”
Pride & Possessions – Grapevine Article September 2014 By Anonymous
At 59, she left her old life behind. Thank goodness she kept coming back I went to my first AA meeting in 1975 at the age of 29. I went because my boyfriend thought I needed to go. I had had an episode of what I later came to know was the DTs. I was screamingContinue reading “Pride & Possessions – Grapevine Article September 2014 By Anonymous”
Earthly Spirituality, Realism & Paradox – The Spirituality of Imperfection By Ernst Kurtz
This post is extracted from Chapter 1 ‘The Fragrance Of A Rose’ of the book ‘The Spirituality Of Imperfection’ “Those who know do not say; those who say do not know.” When the Master entered, they asked him what the words meant. Said the Master, “Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?” AllContinue reading “Earthly Spirituality, Realism & Paradox – The Spirituality of Imperfection By Ernst Kurtz”
The Masks Have To Go – Just For Today July 24th
“…we covered low self-esteem by hiding behind phony images that we hoped would fool people. The masks have to go.” Basic Text, p. 33 ❖ Over-sensitivity, insecurity, and lack of identity are often associated with active addiction. Many of us carry these with us into recovery; our fears of inadequacy, rejection, and lack of directionContinue reading “The Masks Have To Go – Just For Today July 24th”
Our Secrets Keep Us Stuck – Each Day A New Beginning June 30th
. . . in silence might be the privilege of the strong, but it was certainly a danger to the weak. For the things I was prompted to keep silent about were nearly always the things I was ashamed of, which would have been far better aired . . . –Joanna Field It has beenContinue reading “Our Secrets Keep Us Stuck – Each Day A New Beginning June 30th”
Connections Between The Four Agreements & Recovery June 2022 By Mark S.
Recently I found myself returning to a book I had read many years ago – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. As I reflected on his thoughts about these “Four Agreements,” I began to see connections with our efforts to achieve and maintain sobriety. In this article, I hope to show youContinue reading “Connections Between The Four Agreements & Recovery June 2022 By Mark S.”
Hiding Myself – Touchstone March 16th
When self is hidden from everybody else … it seems also to become hidden even from ourself, and it permits disease and death to gnaw into our substance without our clear knowledge. –Sidney Jourard Reovery is in knowing ourselves honestly and learning to have loving relationships with others. Many of us have had close callsContinue reading “Hiding Myself – Touchstone March 16th”
Getting Beyond The Dry Drunk Syndrome – Stage II Recovery By Earnie Larson
The Dry-Drunk Syndrome As hateful as this label is to so many people, it names a real condition that occurs when a person breaks a primary addiction (gets sober) but doesn’t deal with the underlying living problems. “Dry drunks” can afflict people who have broken a primary addiction (Stage I) but have not gotten furtherContinue reading “Getting Beyond The Dry Drunk Syndrome – Stage II Recovery By Earnie Larson”