It works -- it really does. -- ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS p. 88
It just kills me when people find out I have long-term sobriety in AA then feel inclined to AA bash. "Yeah, I tried AA, but...I couldn't get past all the God stuff"; or "... People were so holier-than-thou" or "...It didn't work for me." or whatever their explanation is. They're merely excuses. The scapegoat that allowed them an escape hatch to exit a real opportunity to get sober with their ego intact. It's a mechanism of denial, one of the strongest chains that keep us bound by the disease of alcoholism. It's a lie.
The truth is that AA doesn't require that anyone believe in God. A God of their understanding or anything that they are willing to believe in that has power. Just because I made peace with God as I misunderstand Him, and it works for me, doesn't mean you have to believe as I do. I'm no authority. I have friends that stay sober on an undisclosed Higher Power, their "God with skin", vibrations, Great Spirit, Mother Nature and heard of folks using Group Of Drunks, electricity, even doorknobs (initially). There went that excuse.
AA has no single ultimate authority, no boss', no gurus. The highest achievement is sobriety. Not even sponsors nor speakers are the boss. Did you allow someone to drive you away? That's on you. Principles before personalities. Get yourself back in there, you are worth it. .
If AA just did not work for you, I would add "yet" onto that statement. As long as you're not 6 feet under, it's not too late. Get over yourself and get back in there. You have got to want it (sobriety). It works -- it really does.
It just kills me when people find out I have long-term sobriety in AA then feel inclined to AA bash. "Yeah, I tried AA, but...I couldn't get past all the God stuff"; or "... People were so holier-than-thou" or "...It didn't work for me." or whatever their explanation is. They're merely excuses. The scapegoat that allowed them an escape hatch to exit a real opportunity to get sober with their ego intact. It's a mechanism of denial, one of the strongest chains that keep us bound by the disease of alcoholism. It's a lie.
The truth is that AA doesn't require that anyone believe in God. A God of their understanding or anything that they are willing to believe in that has power. Just because I made peace with God as I misunderstand Him, and it works for me, doesn't mean you have to believe as I do. I'm no authority. I have friends that stay sober on an undisclosed Higher Power, their "God with skin", vibrations, Great Spirit, Mother Nature and heard of folks using Group Of Drunks, electricity, even doorknobs (initially). There went that excuse.
AA has no single ultimate authority, no boss', no gurus. The highest achievement is sobriety. Not even sponsors nor speakers are the boss. Did you allow someone to drive you away? That's on you. Principles before personalities. Get yourself back in there, you are worth it. .
If AA just did not work for you, I would add "yet" onto that statement. As long as you're not 6 feet under, it's not too late. Get over yourself and get back in there. You have got to want it (sobriety). It works -- it really does.
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ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me of this Tina.
ReplyDelete