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Maj Donovan

Maj Donovan is a person in long-term recovery with over four decades of sobriety. He is an author, blogger, lecturer and teaches a monthly workshop at “The Retreat” on the 12 Steps and Sponsorship.

Recent Posts

Young People in AA

[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 30, 2025 10:23:00 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, AA meetings, Recovery Program

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One of the oldest continuously running Young People's AA groups in the state of Minnesota, is the Thursday Night Young Peoples' AA Group, affectionately known as TNYPAA (pronounced Tin E Pa). This article describes how the group has survived for nearly a half-century. 

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Transformational Moments in Alcoholics Anonymous

[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 27, 2025 9:22:51 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, AA meetings, Recovery Program

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When I think about the history of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) I am reminded of three significant transformational moments. The first moment occurred in late November 1934, when Bill Wilson’s old drinking buddy Ebby Thacher dropped in on Bill for a visit. Bill was looking forward to tying one on with his old friend, but Ebby refused Bill’s offer to have a drink. Ebby told Bill he had found religion and didn’t need “the drink” anymore.  Bill wasn’t impressed and surmised that his gin would outlast his friend’s preaching (Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 9). Ebby pressed Bill encouraging him to develop a relationship with God.  

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Detrimental Effects of Gossip on a Group

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 27, 2025 9:34:30 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in recovery process, family recovery, AA meetings, Recovery Program

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In the suggested closing of Al-Anon Family groups we find the following phrase…

“Talk to each other, reason things out with someone else, but let there be no gossip or criticism of one another. Instead, let the understanding, love, and peace of the program grow in you one day at a time.”

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The Master Chess Player

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 7, 2025 9:22:08 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, alcoholism, Recovery Program

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Chess masters know exactly how to move each piece on the board to bring about the desired result. Master chess players employ certain strategies like the Blackburne Shilling Gambit, which can bring about a victory in just seven moves. However, if one of the pieces in the master’s strategy is unexpectedly removed from the board by the opponent, it can result in a prolonged game or loss of the match entirely.  

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“Let’s Be Friendly With Our Friends”

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 10, 2025 1:00:00 PM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, alcoholism, Recovery Program

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This phrase, taken from an essay written by AA co-founder, Bill Wilson, describes the philosophy Bill wanted AA to adopt when it came to cooperation with the professional community. Bill understood that for people to find the AA program, AA needed to have good relations with the medical community, law enforcement, religious organizations and the like.  This is as true today as it was in AA’s early days.  

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Carrying the Message, Not the Mess

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 19, 2024 8:46:59 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, AA Big Book, Recovery Program

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Step 12:  …we tried to carry this message to alcoholics…

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What is a Real Alcoholic?

[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 29, 2024 8:00:00 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, AA Big Book, Recovery Program

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I started going to recovery meetings when I was 15. I heard in the meetings, “What the hell are you doing here?  I lost my wife, my kids and my job because of my drinking.  What the hell did you ever lose? 

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Perfectionism + Procrastination = Paralysis

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 23, 2024 9:26:33 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery process, AA meetings, Recovery Program

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“What a task, I can’t go through with it,” said many a newcomer in recovery.  Expectation mitigation is important during early recovery. It’s important to remember that we “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” We apply ourselves every day and we reapply after temporary setbacks. We strive for progress rather than perfection.  

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Dispelling Myths in Recovery

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 3, 2024 8:00:00 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 Steps, 12 step program, AA meetings

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There are several myths that circulate in recovery meetings about our common recovery program.  This article attempts to dispel some of those.    

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The 3Ps of Service Work

[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 30, 2024 2:55:58 PM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, Recovery, AA meetings, Volunteering

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In my volunteer work with a local service entity, I occasionally will have a volunteer come to me in frustration over working with a treatment center, outpatient clinic, detox or the like.  The conversation goes something like this, “They’ve asked for speakers, but I can never get them to return my calls or emails to coordinate.”
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