One of the great opportunities of living the program of Alcoholics Anonymous is our ability to become “God-Conscious.” Because our alcoholism is a brain disease, our brains reset themselves every night in our sleep to “alcoholic”. I find that I need to set my brain back every morning to “sober”.
Becoming God-Conscious
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 28, 2018 9:30:00 AM / by John MacDougall posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 step program, Sober Housing, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book
A New Year’s Inventory
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 3, 2018 8:00:00 AM / by John MacDougall posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book, Recovery Program
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous makes promises on pages 83 and 84. At the New Year, let’s see how these promises are coming true. We can all take inventory of these promises.
A Miracle of the Season
[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 13, 2017 10:00:00 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 step program, Sober Housing, AA Big Book, Recovery Program
On December 11, 1934, while under treatment at Towns Hospital for alcoholism, Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, experienced a profound and lasting spiritual experience. This intense and life-changing spiritual awakening left Bill with an overwhelming sense of well-being and freed him from his obsession and craving for alcohol. Bill said this about his “hot flash,” “I knew I was a free man”.
JUST “MACDOUGALL IT”
[fa icon="calendar'] Nov 6, 2017 8:00:00 AM / by John MacDougall posted in 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book, Drug Rehab, Recovery Program, Drugs Adiction
I was recently speaking with a very impulsive Retreat guest who had difficulty maintaining a focus on one thing for very long. I was not surprised that his drug of choice was meth, because at the beginning of his meth use it actually calmed him down. At The Retreat we do Big Book studies that are two hours long at a time, and this was tough for him. He told me “I need something short and simple, that can work for me.”
The Master Physician.
[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 30, 2017 10:11:53 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in AA meetings, Sober Housing, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book, Recovery Program
Recently, I overheard a person in recovery talk about being concerned because he hadn’t had a spiritual awakening like Bill W. He was afraid he had done something wrong. He wondered if he had fallen out of favor with God. He questioned whether he had missed something when he went through the 12 Steps. He thought maybe he had glossed over some vital section of the first 164 pages.
“….Because I’m an Alcoholic, Honey, That’s What We Do!”
[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 2, 2017 1:10:56 PM / by John MacDougall posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, AA meetings, Sober Housing, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book
The Problem Child.
[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 20, 2017 4:39:33 PM / by Sherry Gaugler-Stewart posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, family recovery, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book, Drug Rehab
On a recent trip home I got to join my family for their weekly breakfast. The waitress took everyone’s order, and then looked to me for mine. I had no idea what my order would be, as I didn’t have a menu. Everyone else knew everything on the menu! So, when I asked her for one, and she brought it back, I jokingly apologized for being the “problem child” this morning. This was immediately met with another family member stating “I hate to tell you, dear, but you always have been.” Of course, I said I already knew this.
I’d Rather Be A Cause of The Future Than A Result Of The Past.
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 30, 2017 9:30:00 AM / by John MacDougall posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book, Recovery Program, Drugs Adiction
In a way, we are all the people we have ever been. I am my five year old self, and my fifteen year old self, and my twenty five year old self, as well as the man I am today, at sixty-eight years old. We are, to some extent, the sum of our experiences. We can benefit from all our experiences, or be damaged by them.
Personal Prayer.
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 24, 2017 10:10:34 AM / by Sherry Gaugler-Stewart posted in family recovery, alcoholism, 12 steps of aa, AA Big Book, Family Sober Support
There was a period in my life where I spent most of my time doing one of two things: I was either worrying to extremes, or praying about what I was worrying about. My prayers were desperate. I often prayed “Please let him come home safely.” Sometimes I prayed for something to change. At other times, I would make bargains. I would plea for resolution, and make promises in exchange.
Carrying the Message.
[fa icon="calendar'] Jul 19, 2017 9:30:00 AM / by Maj Donovan posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 step program, AA Big Book, Recovery Program, Support Group
So you’ve been asked to bring a meeting into a facility. Congratulations! What an honor and privilege it is to be involved in service. As it states on page 89 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous:
“To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends--this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.”