Posted on 09/25/2023 8:53:59 PM PDT by Captain Peter Blood
No, we don't just "hang on". We recover, and then we go live our lives, usually lives beyond what we could have ever imagined.
AA offers a program of recovery, a design for living that works. Those who do the work, really work the steps, learn a new way of thinking and living. They become a whole new person. They become able to build a life that makes sense to them -- doesn't have to make sense to anyone else; just between them and God.
Some people do just "hang on", some for years -- that is because they refuse to do the work, refuse to change, refuse this program of action.
It only takes a few months to get through the process the first time. At some point in that process, most people realize that they have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Then they show others how to recover as part of their program. And it keeps working, over and over.
If I live to Christmas, it will be 39 years sober for me. It has been a wild adventure for me, but never through those years has alcohol or drugs been a temptation for me.
Stay well, my friend.
Beautifully said. I tried to do it my way in the beginning and drank not too long after leaving rehab. I surrendered, got a sponsor, shut up, listened, did 90/90 and more, and worked the steps. I’ll be 33 years come February. My favorite saying I learned is my tagline.
In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Dealing With a Alcoholic, meadsjn wrote: My friend’s grandmother and my loved one never went to Alcoholics Anonymous - I think maybe there is a key there in those AA meetings where they say the quiet part out loud, and then they hang on for dear life. No, we don't just "hang on". We recover, and then we go live our lives, usually lives beyond what we could have ever imagined.
AA offers a program of recovery, a design for living that works. Those who do the work, really work the steps, learn a new way of thinking and living. They become a whole new person. They become able to build a life that makes sense to them -- doesn't have to make sense to anyone else; just between them and God.
Some people do just "hang on", some for years -- that is because they refuse to do the work, refuse to change, refuse this program of action.
It only takes a few months to get through the process the first time. At some point in that process, most people realize that they have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
Then they show others how to recover as part of their program. And it keeps working, over and over.
If I live to Christmas, it will be 39 years sober for me. It has been a wild adventure for me, but never through those years has alcohol or drugs been a temptation for me.
Stay well, my friend.
Thank you for the post, and giving me a chance to clarify what I meant.
When I wrote 'hang on for dear life' I was thinking of the starting point where those entering AA sometimes talk about not wanting to be there, but not wanting the alternative, being afraid it won't work. I thought of my 25 year old friend roaring like a lion because he hated being sober; he found it painful....at first.
But yes, so very many have recovered and bloomed to become who they wanted to become,shape their lives the way they want, and at the very least for some, to become free free free.
I'm so grateful for your complete recovery and your near 39 years of sobriety!
I know the program works - for decades I've heard people talk about their recovery in church. Knowing it works made it harder for me to accept that my loved one would not even try and watching it destroy their lives. I'm blessed to know many who have enjoyed their sobriety and served as sponsers to others.
God bless you, Meadsjn
The sad fact is that they’ve been lying to themselves. Consider going to Al Anon to better the disease & help you get away from the guilt.
I really don’t have any guilt about this because it’s not my problem. I am disappointed in my friend, and what she has done to herself. If I had gotten the kind of news, she got a year ago I would’ve done everything I could to change my life around. She didn’t do any of that. She kept engaging in the destructive behavior that brought on all her problems. At some point, I probably will confront her about some of these lies not that it will do any good.
That’s good. Lot of family/friends take on the guilt of their loved ones issues so I always recommend Al Anon. My uncle was an abusive drunk & when he and my aunt divorced, she went to AA & even though her kids hated their dad, she was pushing that they maintain a relationship with him because of her time in AA and understanding his disease. I’ll say a prayer for your friend.
Update: My friend says she is doing AA and is now at Step 5 in the 12 Step Program. I wonder about that as I don’t know much about that and how fast someone can advance in this process.
Tonight was Step 5, having her sponsor over and making amends to her husband for what she has done. Still not convinced if she has really quit drinking totally.
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