--- title: Blog | Maj Donovan (5) 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. (5) --- [![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/%E2%80%9CWe%20tried%20to%20carry%20this%20message.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/we-tried-to-carry-this-message) ## [“We tried to carry this message…”](https://blog.theretreat.org/we-tried-to-carry-this-message) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Feb 9, 2022 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [alcohol addiction](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcohol-addiction), [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [12 step program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-step-program), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 1 Comment](https://blog.theretreat.org/we-tried-to-carry-this-message#comments-listing)   Bill Wilson, the co-founder of the program Alcoholics Anonymous, achieved sobriety in December of 1934. One day in the spring of 1935 he came home in the middle of the afternoon. Utterly dejected, he turned to his wife Lois and said, “I’ve worked with drunks for the last six months and not a one of them is sober.” [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/we-tried-to-carry-this-message) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Happy%20New%20Year.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/happy-new-year) ## [Happy New Year!](https://blog.theretreat.org/happy-new-year) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jan 7, 2022 10:11:39 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [alcohol addiction](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcohol-addiction), [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [Drugs Adiction](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/drugs-adiction), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/happy-new-year#comments-listing) Oft times we see the new year portrayed as a newborn child. Reflect for a moment on the wonder that a newborn instills in all of us. Think about the sense of hope and renewal that stirs within you when you see a newborn babe. Who isn’t moved by the site of a newborn resting peacefully within the arms of its loving parent? [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/happy-new-year) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Traits%20of%20Sponsorship.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/traits-of-sponsorship) ## [Traits of Sponsorship](https://blog.theretreat.org/traits-of-sponsorship) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Dec 8, 2021 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [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), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 2 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/traits-of-sponsorship#comments-listing) Sponsors come from all levels of society, all cultures, and every gender identity. There are certain traits good sponsors share. These core traits are foundational to good sponsorship.  [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/traits-of-sponsorship) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Gratitude%20Month.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/november-is-national-gratitude-month) ## [November is National Gratitude Month](https://blog.theretreat.org/november-is-national-gratitude-month) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Nov 10, 2021 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [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), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/november-is-national-gratitude-month#comments-listing) We often hear in self-help meetings, “Have an attitude of gratitude”. For those of us who may not be feeling grateful, this can often come across as cliché and trite. But there is age old wisdom in the saying. [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/november-is-national-gratitude-month) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Changing%20the%20Faces%20%26%20Places.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/changing-the-faces-places) ## [Changing the Faces & Places](https://blog.theretreat.org/changing-the-faces-places) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Oct 6, 2021 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [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), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/changing-the-faces-places#comments-listing)   When I first came into the program, I was told by my sponsor and home-group members that I had to change the faces and places. I didn’t understand the phrase so I asked for clarification. They told me I had to find a new group of friends and a new set of hang-outs. For a 15-year-old, this was a monumental task. My peer group was everything to me. But I knew if I was going to stay alive and stay sober, I had to heed their sage advice. [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/changing-the-faces-places) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/September%20is%20National%20Recovery%20Month%20%E2%80%93%20%E2%80%9CRecovery%20is%20for%20Everyone%E2%80%9D.jpg)](https://blog.theretreat.org/september-is-national-recovery-month-recovery-is-for-everyone) ## [September is National Recovery Month – “Recovery is for Everyone”](https://blog.theretreat.org/september-is-national-recovery-month-recovery-is-for-everyone) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Aug 11, 2021 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [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), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 1 Comment](https://blog.theretreat.org/september-is-national-recovery-month-recovery-is-for-everyone#comments-listing) Recovery Month is a national observance held every September. Started in 1989, Recovery Month educates Americans that substance use treatment and mental health services can enable those with a mental and/or substance use disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life. [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/september-is-national-recovery-month-recovery-is-for-everyone) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Recovering%20In%20the%20Heat.jpg)](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat) ## [Recovering In the Heat](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Jun 16, 2021 8:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [12 Steps](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps), [AA meetings](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-meetings), [AA Big Book](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/aa-big-book), [Alcoholism Treatment Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism-treatment-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 1 Comment](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat#comments-listing) You can turn up the heat emotionally. You can turn up the heat physically. But what do you do when your emotional and physical temp are turned up, and you can’t access the reset gauge? [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/recovering-in-the-heat) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/Making%20Amends%20Chicago%20Style.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/making-amends-chicago-style) ## [Making Amends Chicago Style](https://blog.theretreat.org/making-amends-chicago-style) \[fa icon="calendar'\] May 5, 2021 9:00:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [Alcoholics Anonymous](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholics-anonymous), [alcoholism](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/alcoholism), [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) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 1 Comment](https://blog.theretreat.org/making-amends-chicago-style#comments-listing)   At a conference on recovery not long ago in Chicago, I listened to the speaker talk about making amends.  The crux of her point was that the amend had to be equal to or greater than the offense.  For example, you can’t falsely print on the front page of a newspaper that someone is a cheat and a liar and then print the retraction on page 17.  No, if you’re going to set the scales of restorative justice evenly, the retraction has to go on page one. [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/making-amends-chicago-style) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/the3Ls.png)](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3-ls) ## [The 3 L's](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3-ls) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Mar 3, 2021 7:33:00 AM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [family recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/family-recovery), [Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery), [Recovery Program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-program), [Support Group](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/support-group) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 0 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3-ls#comments-listing)   ## The Loot, The Lift and The Lover During my four decades of recovery, I’ve worked with hundreds of young men who are enthusiastic and excited about recovery. For them, everything is new and life has taken on a different meaning. They are going to meetings regularly; they are working with their sponsors and the wreckage from their past is slowly getting repaired. But alas, they seem to hit three common roadblocks which sends them spiraling back down the path whence they came. I refer to these three roadblocks as: The Loot, The Lift and The Lover.   [Read More \[fa icon="long-arrow-right"\]](https://blog.theretreat.org/the-3-ls) [![](https://blog.theretreat.org/hubfs/LDRSHIP.jpg)](https://blog.theretreat.org/ldrship) ## [LDRSHIP](https://blog.theretreat.org/ldrship) \[fa icon="calendar'\] Feb 2, 2021 4:27:50 PM / by [Maj Donovan](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/maj-donovan) posted in [recovery process](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery-process), [12 step program](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-step-program), [Recovery](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/recovery), [12 steps of aa](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-steps-of-aa), [12 Traditions Of AA](https://blog.theretreat.org/topic/12-traditions-of-aa) [\[fa icon="comment"\] 3 Comments](https://blog.theretreat.org/ldrship#comments-listing) We have the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions on which volumes of material have been written. Yet, a common theme running through the steps and traditions is this idea of principles. But what are these principles and from where do they come? 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(1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/lisa-d) - [Stephen Crane (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/stephen-crane) - [Paddy O (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/paddy-o) - [Connie Lawrence (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/connie-lawrence) - [Bob Bernu (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/bob-bernu) - [Lisa Speedling (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/lisa-speedling) - [Kevin J (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/kevin-j) - [Jake L (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/jake-l) - [Women in Recovery (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/women-in-recovery) - [Judge Shaun Floerke (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/judge-shaun-floerke) - [Peter H (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/peter-h) - [Deb Wuebker (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/deb-wuebker) - [Jay R. (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/jay-r) - [Cecil B (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/cecil-b) - [Lisa G. (1)](https://blog.theretreat.org/author/lisa-g) see all ### Recent Posts ### OUR MISSION Our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities affected by alcohol and drug dependency by providing affordable, effective educational services grounded in the Twelve Step principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. 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