The word shame is derived from the Indo-European ‘skein’, which means to hide. Shame makes us want to hide from ourselves, and our peers – making shame an existentially isolating state of mind. Feeling shame makes a person dejection-based, passive, or helpless, causing the ashamed person to focus more on devaluing or condemning his entireContinue reading “Eliminating Shame Through The Principles and Practices of Alcoholics Anonymous by Steve K.”
Category Archives: Secrets
No One Will Know – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Matt M.
While working on a construction site with some AA buddies, he had a close call he won’t soon forget A few years back, my 10-year AA anniversary was approaching. At that time, I was working a good program, going to my regular meetings and my home group. I touched base with my sponsor and workedContinue reading “No One Will Know – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Matt M.”
Honest Feedback – Touchstone November 2nd Reflection
Honesty is stronger medicine than sympathy, which may console but often conceals. –Gretel Ehrlich We owe our brothers and sisters in this program our honest feedback. And we need the same honesty from them. There are times in meetings when it would be easiest to give someone sympathy and privately mutter to ourselves, “He isn’tContinue reading “Honest Feedback – Touchstone November 2nd Reflection”
Only Try – As Bill Sees It #214
In my teens, I had to be an athlete because I was not an athlete. I had to be a musician because I could not carry a tune. I had to be the president of my class in boarding school. I had to first in everything because in my perverse heart I felt myself theContinue reading “Only Try – As Bill Sees It #214”
River Of Shadows – Grapevine Article By Dick L.
In this article, the author explores his experience of his multiplicity of parts … a part wants one thing and another part a different thing. This theme of our internal divide and how to heal from it, is the focus of a entire section of our website entitled ‘Healing Our Jekyll/Hyde Divided Self’ Sometimes itContinue reading “River Of Shadows – Grapevine Article By Dick L.”
Mr. Hyde Doesn’t Die – Grapevine Article April 1968 by A.J.W.
To explore this reality of parts within us and the war and healing of these parts , check out this section of our website The boozer in us is still there, but put to sleep by AA. This member woke up his Mr. Hyde with a single beer WE ALCOHOLICS are, I think, double-personality people–oneContinue reading “Mr. Hyde Doesn’t Die – Grapevine Article April 1968 by A.J.W.”
Sunlight and Air – Grapevine Article May 1999 by Cheryl M.
Step 5 – Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. I came to Alcoholics Anonymous young in years but sick of soul and full of secrets. Now, in my middle age, I no longer harbor secrets, and my soul is in better health than ever. It’sContinue reading “Sunlight and Air – Grapevine Article May 1999 by Cheryl M.”
Borrowed Faith – Grapevine Article May 2022 by Michael C.
He was back in detox again, but this time was different. A fellow member helped open his soul The craving traveled a well-worn path that started in the pit of my stomach. It moved up to my heart, making it beat harder and faster. My heart ushered it to my lungs, which responded by takingContinue reading “Borrowed Faith – Grapevine Article May 2022 by Michael C.”
Seeing & Accepting Our Reality – 12 & 12 pages 122 -125
This extract from Step 12 can be thought of as a high level roadmap for helping us understand our ongoing journey toward emotional sobriety as we grow in maturity and balance. This journey has no ceiling ; we can always be in a mode of expansion. Bill W more deeply explored these themes in hisContinue reading “Seeing & Accepting Our Reality – 12 & 12 pages 122 -125”
Faith, Failure, and Frustration – Grapevine Article May 1973 by Anonymous
Making promises we cannot keep leads only to greater guilt THE GRAVITY of the offense is measured according to the dignity of the one offended. So said an old philosopher. Guilt is sometimes defined as remorse felt over one’s commission of a real or imagined offense. Sometimes, I define guilt as the result of wishingContinue reading “Faith, Failure, and Frustration – Grapevine Article May 1973 by Anonymous”