--- title: Blog | Maj Donovan (2) description: 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. (2) --- [![The retreat](https://blog.theretreat.org/hs-fs/file-2373138307-png/TheRetreat-Jan2015_Theme/img/logo.png?width=271&name=logo.png "The retreat")](https://www.theretreat.org/) ON-LINE [Meeting Resources](https://www.myrecovery.org/online-meetings/) EMAIL US [info@theretreat.org](mailto:info@theretreat.org) CALL US [866-928-3434](tel:8669283434) [![ The Retreat ](https://blog.theretreat.org/hs-fs/file-2373138307-png/TheRetreat-Jan2015_Theme/img/logo.png.png?width=460&name=logo.png.png " The Retreat ")](https://www.theretreat.org/) - [About](http://www.theretreat.org/about) - [History](http://www.theretreat.org/about/history) - [Staff](http://www.theretreat.org/staff-and-leadership-team) - [Board of Directors](http://www.theretreat.org/about/board-of-directors) - [FAQs](http://www.theretreat.org/about/faqs) - [Testimonials](http://www.theretreat.org/about/testimonials) - [Careers](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/2025-Documents/Kitchen-Now-Hiring.png) - [Programs](http://www.theretreat.org/programs) - [Men’s Residential](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/mens-residential-program) - [Women’s Residential](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/womens-residential-program) - [Virtual Recovery Program](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/virtual-recovery-programs) - [Evening Program](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/evening-programs) - [55Plus Hybrid Program](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/55plus-program) - [Relapse Program](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/relapse-programs) - [Renewal Program](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/renewal-program) - [Family Program](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/family-program) - [Sober Housing](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/the-retreat-residences) - [Service Payments](http://www.theretreat.org/service-payments) - [Retreats & Workshops](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/weekend-retreats) - [Retreats, Classes & Workshops](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/weekend-retreats/sponsored-by-the-retreat) - [Reserve McIver Center](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/weekend-retreats/private-group-retreats) - [Food Addiction Retreat (COR)](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/weekend-retreats/cor-retreats) - [Love First Training Institute](http://www.theretreat.org/programs/weekend-retreats/sponsored-by-the-retreat/love-first) - [Donate](http://www.theretreat.org/donate) - [Make a Gift](https://info.theretreat.org/donate-giving-form) - [Scholarship Support](https://info.theretreat.org/donate-support-scholarship) - [Donor Recognition & Tribute Opportunities](http://www.theretreat.org/our-next-step-naming-and-recognition) - [Alumni & Friends](http://www.theretreat.org/alumni-friends) - [Calendar](http://www.theretreat.org/alumni-friends/calendar) - [Recovery Community Activities](http://www.theretreat.org/alumni-friends/recovery-community-activities) - [Alumni Association Events](http://www.theretreat.org/alumni-friends/alumni-association-events) - [Breakfast Club](http://www.theretreat.org/breakfast-club) - [Event Gallery](http://www.theretreat.org/alumni-friends/alumni-event-gallery) - [Kenny’s Recipes](http://www.theretreat.org/alumni-friends/kennys-recipes) - [Golf Extravaganza 2026](http://www.theretreat.org/golf-extravaganza) - [Women in Recovery](http://www.theretreat.org/women-in-recovery) - [Research](http://www.theretreat.org/research) - [Abstinence-Based Recovery](http://www.theretreat.org/research-on-12-step-abstinence-based-recovery) - [Outcome Studies](http://www.theretreat.org/the-retreat-outcome-studies) - [Outcomes](http://www.theretreat.org/research/outcomes) - [Research On 12-Steps](http://www.theretreat.org/research-on-12-step-abstinence-based-recovery) - [Spiritual Direction](http://www.theretreat.org/spiritual-direction) - Media - [Blog](https://blog.theretreat.org) - [Podcast](http://www.theretreat.org/media/podcast) - [Newsroom](http://www.theretreat.org/media/in-the-news) - [Videos](http://www.theretreat.org/media/video-resources) - [Contact](https://info.theretreat.org/contact-us) [NEED HELP NOW?](https://info.theretreat.org/contact-us) ![RetreatBlogBannerImage.jpg](https://blog.theretreat.org/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Retreat_Blog_Banner_Image_Final.jpg?width=5688&name=Retreat_Blog_Banner_Image_Final.jpg "RetreatBlogBannerImage.jpg") ## Maj Donovan ![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hs-fs/hubfs/none-circle-1.png?width=35&name=none-circle-1.png) 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 [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/The%20Master%20Chess%20Player.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-master-chess-player) ## [The Master Chess Player](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-master-chess-player) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Feb 7, 2025 9:22:08 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [alcoholism](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-master-chess-player#comments-listing) 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.   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-master-chess-player) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/%E2%80%9CLet%E2%80%99s%20Be%20Friendly%20With%20Our%20Friends%E2%80%9D%20%20%20.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/lets-be-friendly-with-our-friends) ## [“Let’s Be Friendly With Our Friends”](https://blog.theretreat.org/lets-be-friendly-with-our-friends) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jan 10, 2025 1:00:00 PM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [alcoholism](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/lets-be-friendly-with-our-friends#comments-listing) 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.   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/lets-be-friendly-with-our-friends) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Carrying%20the%20Message%2c%20Not%20the%20Mess.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/carrying-the-message-not-the-mess) ## [Carrying the Message, Not the Mess](https://blog.theretreat.org/carrying-the-message-not-the-mess) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Dec 19, 2024 8:46:59 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 2 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/carrying-the-message-not-the-mess#comments-listing) Step 12:  …we tried to carry this message to alcoholics… [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/carrying-the-message-not-the-mess) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/What%20is%20a%20Real%20Alcoholic%20.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/what-is-a-real-alcoholic) ## [What is a Real Alcoholic?](https://blog.theretreat.org/what-is-a-real-alcoholic) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Nov 29, 2024 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 9 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/what-is-a-real-alcoholic#comments-listing) 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?  [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/what-is-a-real-alcoholic) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Perfectionism%20+%20Procrastination%20=%20Paralysis%20.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/perfectionism-procrastination-paralysis) ## [Perfectionism + Procrastination = Paralysis](https://blog.theretreat.org/perfectionism-procrastination-paralysis) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Oct 23, 2024 9:26:33 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/perfectionism-procrastination-paralysis#comments-listing) “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.   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/perfectionism-procrastination-paralysis) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Dispelling%20Myths%20in%20Recovery.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/dispelling-myths-in-recovery) ## [Dispelling Myths in Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/dispelling-myths-in-recovery) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Oct 3, 2024 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [12 step program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-step-program), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 2 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/dispelling-myths-in-recovery#comments-listing) There are several myths that circulate in recovery meetings about our common recovery program.  This article attempts to dispel some of those.     [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/dispelling-myths-in-recovery) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/The%203Ps%20of%20Service%20Work.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3ps-of-service-work) ## [The 3Ps of Service Work](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3ps-of-service-work) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Aug 30, 2024 2:55:58 PM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [Volunteering](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/volunteering) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3ps-of-service-work#comments-listing) 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.” [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3ps-of-service-work) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Death%20of%20a%20Group%20-%20Retreat%20MN.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/death-of-a-group) ## [Death of a Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/death-of-a-group) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Aug 2, 2024 10:23:29 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 1 Comment](https://blog.theretreat.org/death-of-a-group#comments-listing) There was a group I attended occasionally whenever I felt like I needed an extra meeting.  I joked that the only membership requirement for this group was that you had to have a desire to stop drinking and twenty years of sobriety.  They had about twenty regular members and if you added up the collective sobriety dates of the attendees, they would have had over 400 years of sobriety.  The room was full of old timers, but seldom attracted newcomers.   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/death-of-a-group) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Speaking%20Truth%20to%20Power.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/speaking-truth-to-power) ## [Speaking Truth to Power](https://blog.theretreat.org/speaking-truth-to-power) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jul 9, 2024 11:27:48 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 2 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/speaking-truth-to-power#comments-listing) In the corporate world there is a phrase that is often used when it comes to bringing “bad news” to management.  It is called, “Speaking Truth to Power.” It is a behavior that is expected of all corporate officers. It is the idea that management and senior executives can sometimes be oblivious, for a variety of reasons, to problems within the organization. Thus, it is the moral and ethical obligation of the juniors, subordinates, and peers of the organization to speak up and say something if they believe there is a serious problem within the organization. It is a sound philosophy and one that is grounded in the principle of acting for and on behalf of the greater good. This philosophy and behavior is also a sound principle of recovery.   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/speaking-truth-to-power) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Selfish%20Sponsorship.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/selfish-sponsorship) ## [Selfish Sponsorship](https://blog.theretreat.org/selfish-sponsorship) \[fa icon="calendar'\] May 30, 2024 4:18:24 PM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 6 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/selfish-sponsorship#comments-listing) “You have to get involved in service. You have to get involved in service. You have to get involved with service.” The phrase seemed to echo off the walls of our meeting room.  Well intentioned recovery members repeated the phrase incessantly to me in my early sobriety.  And much to their credit I did get involved and I did stay sober.  Afterall, they told me, “nothing will so much ensure our immunity from the first drink as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when all else fails.”   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/selfish-sponsorship) [\[fa icon="angle-double-left"\] Prev](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan/page/1) [All posts](https://blog.theretreat.org/all) [Next \[fa icon="angle-double-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan/page/3) ### Subscribe to Email Updates [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/478538/839b1295-222c-440a-a31f-5be26d9a5570.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/478538/839b1295-222c-440a-a31f-5be26d9a5570) - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Alcoholics Anonymous (181)](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous) - [Recovery Program (138)](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program) - [AA meetings (102)](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings) - [alcoholism (86)](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism) - [12 steps of aa (85)](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps-of-aa) - 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