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.”
Category Archives: Unworthiness
Speaking Of Trauma – Grapevine Article March 2023 by Anonymous
A longtime member shares his journey of buried wounds and the importance of getting outside help There’s an amend I owe that I hope someday I get to make face-to-face. It’s to another AA member who sat in front of me in a clubhouse meeting and told me how he’d been abused by one ofContinue reading “Speaking Of Trauma – Grapevine Article March 2023 by Anonymous”
Self Acceptance – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety by Dr. Allen Berger
Dr. Berger is a leader in Emotional Sobriety. His book 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety is featured prominently in the Emotional Sobriety section of the gugogs.org website. He is a Gestalt therapist with over 50 years of sobriety. Before we do a deep dive into self acceptance with Dr. Berger’s article, it might be useful to identify signsContinue reading “Self Acceptance – 12 Essential Insights For Emotional Sobriety by Dr. Allen Berger”
How Do I Respond To Failing – Each Day A New Beginning Feb 3rd
When we begin to take our failures non-seriously, it means we are ceasing to be afraid of them. It is of immense importance to learn to laugh at ourselves.–Katherine Mansfield Perfectionism and its control over our lives stands seriously in the way of our growth and well-being, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. Life’s lessons comeContinue reading “How Do I Respond To Failing – Each Day A New Beginning Feb 3rd”
The Strange Mental Blank Spot – Grapevine Article by Louisa P.
An alcoholic does battle with the strange mental blank spot that separates her (and all alcoholics) from the rest of humanity Alcoholism is a physical, mental, and spiritual disease. That’s what we learn in AA. Alcoholism is merely a lack of self-discipline. That’s what most of the world thinks. Alcoholics can exert all the self-disciplineContinue reading “The Strange Mental Blank Spot – Grapevine Article by Louisa P.”
A Gift That Surpasses Understanding – Grapevine Article by A Priest April 1970
The spiritual experience in AA is something quite apart from formal religion, says this priest Frequently around the AA program we hear a person say, “The spiritual side of the program is not for me” or “I don’t go for the spiritual bit. As long as I don’t drink, I’m satisfied. I leave the pie-in-the-skyContinue reading “A Gift That Surpasses Understanding – Grapevine Article by A Priest April 1970”
Out of This World! – Grapevine Article July 1992 by George M.
I had a surprising thought last night. As I listened to fellow AA members share, those initials AA took on a new meaning for me–Aliens Anonymous. I don’t know if every alcoholic feels like an alien, but I certainly have. Sometimes I still do. I’ve often said it was as if my second-grade teacher hadContinue reading “Out of This World! – Grapevine Article July 1992 by George M.”
Knowing It’s Not Personal – 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety – Dr. Allen Berger
Stop for a moment and think about all the things that upset you during the day. A friend says you’re not being attentive enough. Your partner seems to be ignoring you. The auto repair service implies you’re stupid for not knowing it was time to change the oil. A driver swerves in front of youContinue reading “Knowing It’s Not Personal – 12 Essential Insights for Emotional Sobriety – Dr. Allen Berger”
Does AA Have Hidden Membership Rules? – Grapevine Article June 2004 by Anonymous
You don’t have to be a sheep to stay sober I’ve been a grateful and active member of AA for fourteen years and have always been an admirer and student of AA literature and history. Though I’d like to think so at times, I don’t have all the answers, but I do have lots ofContinue reading “Does AA Have Hidden Membership Rules? – Grapevine Article June 2004 by Anonymous”
Forgiveness – As Bill Sees It #318
Through the vital Fifth Step, we began to get the feeling that we could be forgiven, no matter what we had thought or done. Often it was while working on this Step with our sponsors or spiritual advisers that we first felt truly able to forgive others, no matter how deeply we felt they hadContinue reading “Forgiveness – As Bill Sees It #318”