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”
Category Archives: Wholeness
Love – Grapevine Article September 1988 By C.C.
The longer he stays sober, the more he learns the value of passing on that inner glow I really never knew what true love was until I began my recovery in AA. My schooling in that emotion began early and led me to the conclusion that love is what creates in the attitude of aContinue reading “Love – Grapevine Article September 1988 By C.C.”
Alchemy Of Pain – Grapevine Article December 2003 By Mary J.
When I first encountered the promises on pages 83-84 of the Big Book, I wasn’t very impressed because I didn’t believe them. Members with long-term sobriety talked of them lovingly and with expressions bordering on awe. From time to time, an entire meeting centered on that reading. I got stuck on “We will not regretContinue reading “Alchemy Of Pain – Grapevine Article December 2003 By Mary J.”
Becoming Students Of Life – Keep It Simple September 4th
In my view, we of this world are pupils in the great school of life – Bill W. Our addiction has taught us much. It has taught us how far we can get from ourselves, our Higher Power, and those who love us.. Hopefully, we’ve learned we can’t go it alone. Do I allow myselfContinue reading “Becoming Students Of Life – Keep It Simple September 4th”
‘The Keys Of The Kingdom’ Concluding Paragraphs Big Book pages 275-276
AA is not a plan for recovery that can be finished and done with. It is a way of life, and the challenge contained in its principles is great enough to keep any human being striving for as long as he lives. We do not, cannot, outgrow this plan. As arrested alcoholics, we must haveContinue reading “‘The Keys Of The Kingdom’ Concluding Paragraphs Big Book pages 275-276”
Putting It Off A Day At A Time – Grapevine Article June 1984 By C.C.
AMONG THE PARADOXES that apply to alcoholics is that we are impatient procrastinators. We want success and perfection right now, but we are caught up by a disease that functions as the world’s greatest delaying mechanism. Taking things slowly and gradually, as well as simply, in Alcoholics Anonymous makes character growth more solid. We areContinue reading “Putting It Off A Day At A Time – Grapevine Article June 1984 By C.C.”
Unsuspected Inner Resource – How Modern Therapy Is Discovering What Is Innate And Healing Within Us by Bruce M.
How can we access the unsuspected inner resource within us as we experience conflicts with those about us and within us As we explore the perhaps many parts within us that comprise the Dr. Jekyll of us attempting to manage better (i.e. parts like our Inner Critic, Striver, People Pleaser, Know-It-All) and the Mr. HydeContinue reading “Unsuspected Inner Resource – How Modern Therapy Is Discovering What Is Innate And Healing Within Us by Bruce M.”
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.”
Jekyll and Hyde Tenth Step Lessons Grapevine Article by Dr. Charles Aring October 1962
Would AA’s Fourth Step have changed the ending of the famous old horror story? A famous doctor thinks it might THREE-QUARTERS of a century ago, Fanny Stevenson, frightened in the night by her husband’s cries and moans, prodded him into wakefulness. In a dawning state of consciousness he was annoyed, and not for the usuallyContinue reading “Jekyll and Hyde Tenth Step Lessons Grapevine Article by Dr. Charles Aring October 1962”
Kindness Of The Human Heart – Grapevine Article June 2023 By Ron K.
How a woman he once harmed taught him about forgiveness, love and being truly free I was introduced to AA through the court system after I caused a terrible automobile accident. I ran a red light while I was in a blackout. I was badly injured in the crash and an innocent elderly woman namedContinue reading “Kindness Of The Human Heart – Grapevine Article June 2023 By Ron K.”