Category Archives: Tolerance

Unacceptable – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Allen B.

I stood there in line growing more and more impatient. After all, I had important things to do. I didn’t have the time to stand in line waiting for their social hour to end. My journey in recovery started in 1971. I returned from combat in Vietnam with an alcohol and drug problem. I’m gratefulContinue reading “Unacceptable – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Allen B.”

Releasing Expectations & Soaring – Touchstones May 13th

As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might. –Marion Anderson Because of our resentments we sometimes get tense. We say we aren’t going to have contact with our parents until they doContinue reading “Releasing Expectations & Soaring – Touchstones May 13th”

What Matters Most – Grapevine Article September 2021 By Kristin S.

Sometimes the results of our efforts to make amends take years. Sometimes they come after a lot of painful rejection. God’s timing is often mysterious, but it’s perfect. My dad and I had a rocky relationship while I was drinking. He kicked me out and had very little to do with me near the end.Continue reading “What Matters Most – Grapevine Article September 2021 By Kristin S.”

Make Me A Channel – Grapevine Article November 2020 By Michael J.

How a sponsor’s suggestion to meditate on a prayer led him on a path to peace, love and a sense of belonging I remember when my sponsor gave me an assignment for Step Eleven. After we reviewed the Step in our book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, he told me to read the Eleventh StepContinue reading “Make Me A Channel – Grapevine Article November 2020 By Michael J.”

Freed Prisoners – As Bill Sees It #234

Letter to a prison group: Every A.A. has been, in a sense, a prisoner.  Each of us has walled himself out of society; each has known social stigma.  The lot of you folks has been even more difficult:  In your case, society has also built a wall around you.  But there isn’t any really essentialContinue reading “Freed Prisoners – As Bill Sees It #234”

Finding Clarity & Practicing Patience – Each Day A New Beginning April 27th

So much to say. And so much not to say! Some things are better left unsaid. But so many unsaid things can become a burden. –Virginia Mae Axline The occasions are many when we’d like to share a feeling, an observation, perhaps even a criticism with someone. The risk is great, however. She might beContinue reading “Finding Clarity & Practicing Patience – Each Day A New Beginning April 27th”

Changing The Way We See In Our 4th Step – Practice These Principles Ray A.

“We swing from blaming others and getting angry, to blaming ourselves and getting depressed. In either case, we weren’t seeing straight” For us alcoholics, changing the way we see is changing the way we are in every significant aspect of our being: morally, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Our goal is to be better, not justContinue reading “Changing The Way We See In Our 4th Step – Practice These Principles Ray A.”

To Be Fair-Minded – As Bill Sees It # 113

Too often, I think, we have deprecated and even derided projects of our friends in the field of alcoholism just because we do not always see eye to eye with them. We should very seriously ask ourselves how many alcoholics have gone on drinking simply because we have failed to cooperate in good spirit withContinue reading “To Be Fair-Minded – As Bill Sees It # 113”

Learn To Say Yes – More Language Of Letting Go April 2nd

Learn to say yes, and mean it. How long has it been since you’ve said yes to someone in your life? Yes, I’d like to do that. Yes, that sounds good to me. Yes, I’ll take a chance. How long has it been since you’ve said yes to yourself? Yes, I recognize what you’re feeling.Continue reading “Learn To Say Yes – More Language Of Letting Go April 2nd”

How Is My Now? – Grapevine Article August 2001 By Barb G.

Well, I’m a half-century old now, and I have decided to face the music and become a grown-up. That word was uttered during my youth with such reverence: “When I get big enough, I can sit at the dining room table with the grown-ups,” we children would say wistfully at family gatherings. And I supposeContinue reading “How Is My Now? – Grapevine Article August 2001 By Barb G.”