A remarkable effect can take place in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting when an individual struggling with a drinking problem asks for help, and someone is there to share with them that AA may be a solution. For some AA members, their journey of sobriety began at “open” AA meetings, which can be attended by any member of the community, alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Open meetings have long been a vital source of information for anyone who wants to learn more about the AA Fellowship.
Cinderella Syndrome goes by many names. Some call it wishful thinking. Some refer to it as wish fulfillment. Still others refer to it as fantastical or magical thinking. The late, great psychologist Dr. Albert Ellis described it as an irrational thought characterized by the idea that “One must be quite dependent on others and need them...”
On March 1st, meteorological spring started. On March 13th at 2 am, we will spring forward. And on March 20th we will experience equal amounts of sunshine and darkness as we usher in the spring equinox. Shakespeare wrote in his play Julius Caesar to, “Beware the Ides of March.” But from this author’s perspective, it looks like spring has finally spung and that’s a good thing.
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.”
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?
“By 1937, some of us realized that AA needed a standard literature. There would have to be a book ... Well, we did quarrel violently over the preparation and distribution of that book. In fact, it took five years for the clamor to die down. Should any AAs dream that the old-timers who put the book together went about in serene meditation and white robes, then they had best forget it.” - AA Co-Founder, Bill W., November 1951, “Services Make AA Tick”, The Language of the Heart.
Tis the season to be jolly”, as the age-old song reminds us. In that vein, here are some stories to lift your spirits - Happy Holidays!
Q: How do you define recovery?
A: I consider myself a person in long-term recovery. To me, that means that I haven't had a drink or drug in over 42 years.
Alcoholism is a serious issue in our society today—millions of people are currently suffering from alcoholism and the subsequent consequences. Unfortunately, there are many myths about alcoholism that plague our society, making it harder for those suffering to get the help they need.
