1938 Original Manuscript for 1939 1st Edition BigBook Searchable 1976 3rd Edition BigBook On-Line
The Prescription
Click The Images To Go To Page Indicated In The Flag

The [unrecovered dry, not using] alcoholic ...

The following is from a series of posting that were placed on Friends In Recovery Bulletin Board [Editorial note: the afore mentioned group no longer exists, the link has been removed] in Sept 2002 after watching the carnage of rampaging over-inflated egos run wild. The fears exposed, the hate, the resentments, the lack of love expressed, were there for all to see. All evidence of recovery had disappeared. I placed the first of these on the board in an attempt to bring some sanity back to the forum. Sanity returned.


BB pg 82 ... "The [unrecovered dry, not using] alcoholic [user and abuser of any variety] is like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others."

The purpose of all 12 Step programs is a whole lot more than just "Don't Drink, Don't 'Whatever' and Go To Meeting's." The purpose of all the programs is to bring us through the chaos and turmoil of our lives brought about by our thinking, recovering from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body as our egos are deflated in depth, THE result of working and applying all 12 of the Steps to all aspects of our daily living, bringing us out of the dark of our minds into the LIGHT to LIVE ... and Let Live ... happy, joyous, free, serene, content and at peace, sober one day at a time, FULLY ALIVE in the sufficiency of God's Grace, with Our Own Spirit Awakened.

BB pgs 84 and 84 ... speaking of the recovered alcoholic ... (Step 9 work has been at least half-way completed, and the promises are coming true.) ...
"This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.

"And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone - even alcohol [whatever]. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor [whatever]. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor [whatever] has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cócky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

"It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism [our stinkin' way of thinkin' and whatever other physical/genetic factors may be involved in the disease]. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance [and improvement] of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will."

BB Pg 82 ... "Don't see anything the matter here, Ma. Ain't it grand the wind stopped blowin'?" and the next line on Pg 83 ... "Yes, there is a long period of reconstruction ahead."

If a 12 Step member puts the steps into their lives, beginning with the first three steps, they have admitted that they were powerless over alcohol, they could not manage their own lives [and damn sure couldn't manage the lives or thinkin' of others], and that they have made a decision to seek out a new manager, turning their wills and lives over to the care of God as they understood it. They are no longer in charge! A Power Greater than themselves has been asked to take over.

If a 12 Step member is constantly, on a daily basis, fighting taking a drink [whatever], or fighting life and with others, there is no one in charge but the 12 Step member ... There is no power greater than oneself in that condition. The Ego and Self-will are running amuck!!

One day at a time I must remember as I look upon the AA symbol that the Love of God is triangular, included within the whole of our circle. It must flow from God through me, through you, and back to God, and be demonstrated by each of us in Unity, Service and Recovery.


Love and Peace, Barefoot


In Response to The [unrecovered dry, not using] alcoholic...

Good post and topic.....just what IS recovery?

Thanks, Bob...good post....and a good topic. The following is meant as a basis for discussion only.

I guess you (and AA?) have defined recovery as not drinking/using AND entering into a close spiritual relationship with an HP? So, if I have quit drinking/using, am quite content in life, but do not rely on MY HP for salvation on a day to day basis, then I am not recovered? Another wonderful statement from the rooms of AA is "take what you need and leave the rest" --- at first I just took the fellowship and that worked, then I took the opportunity to examine my self to determine what I must do - and that worked better - then I defined my God as every individual must do and have come to live in peace with that perception.....I have "taken" true value from AA, but not sure that I have "taken" the whole meal deal*S I believe I am in recovery....surely that is enough?

My perception was that AA was intended to help people caught in the throws of a horrible situation (disease or whatever) to find and lead a worthwhile life and ONE of the means to achieve that was to embrace a spiritual existence. That is....the objective was not to drink or use and to be happy in life.

I feel recovery is a matter a regaining self-respect and self-love which is necessary to be able to love and help others - regardless of a spiritual or religious commitment. In other words, I do not drink or use now, and I am not "white knuckle" - I am enjoying life due to a release from a demon. Yet I have to admit that I am not particularly spiritual........except that I have my own understanding of MY HP.

What are other's thoughts on the definition of "recovery"? Why come to AA or any other route in the first place?

An interesting topic at a meeting or here, if people just want to reflect a bit and share, is......"WHY? Begin at the beginning of your search for sobriety or recovery....what do you wish for? what do you commit to do to get there?"

This topic may serve as a very good listing and posting on ES&H.

But, keep in mind, each opinion stated, no matter how annoying to anyone else personally, is most likely the valid thoughts of the writer and, therefore, should be respected.

Thanks, Bob.


In Reply to - Good post and topic.....just what IS recovery?

LOL, Xxxxxx, there are as many concepts, precepts and perceptions of HP as there are of us alkies, druggies, fatties, etc., in fact as many as there are people on this earth ... each to his own ...

For me, not being able to define or put any limit on this thing, I simply refer to it as "Charlie" and I know who and what it is to whom I am talking ... I have found the best defin"it"ion for me to date is that found in the 2nd Tradition, it speaks to me, and I know where "it" is located, right where the BigBook on page 55 said it would ultimately be found ... and if it is there for me, then it is there, perforce, for everyone and everything else ... a universal thing ...

I have had many percepts and precepts over the years, all have worked for me, and every now and again as I work through the steps in my daily affairs I find a new facet ... something more to further awaken MY SPIRIT, just like the 12th step promises.

This I know for sure, every person on this earth has a religion, aetheists, agnostics, and men of "God" alike... It is the way they live (and some live a life of lies, as we know) ...

If a person is living the good life in recovery, if the madness, the compulsion, the craving. the fear, the terror, the bewilderment, the despair, the aloneness, and the fighting of it are removed, then how can that be faulted?? ... Ipso facto, the sine qua non for recovery has been met, at least for the present ... There is something working in their life that was not working before, and whatever that is, I will call Wakan Tanka ... LOL ... that is Sioux for "Great Mystery", and so it is for each of us, just that, a Great Mystery ... that we can come to know and love.

So ... as I am fond of saying ...
"Whatever turns your crank, blows your skirt up, and works for you,

USE IT!!!"

The 12 Steps of AA and the Great Mystery, that I searched for deep down within by working the steps, found it there and accepted it into my life, have worked for me now today, , for in a row since my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at the Orange Friendship Club, February 28, 1974.

And just to pacify (or rankle) some folks, I will quote from the Gospel of Thomas ... by some traditions, the twin brother of that underemployed, itinerant Aramaic handyman, Eshoo ben Yosep, himself, by some accounts, one of us ... a tremendous 12 stepper in any case ... has helped a lot of folks out of the frying pan ...

70. Jesus said "If you bring forth what is within you, what you have will save you. If you do not have that within you, what you do not have within you will kill you."

Think About IT!!!


Love and Peace, Barefoot

P.S. -- If it rankles anybody, you know what to do, pray for me, I need all the prayers I can get ... to remember Rule 62 ... LOL

Index of AA History Pages on Barefoot's Domain


As in so many things, especially with we alcoholics, our History is our Greatest Asset!.. We each arrived at the doors of AA with an intensive and lengthy "History of Things That Do Not Work" .. Today, In AA and In Recovery, Our History has added an intensive and lengthy "History of Things That DO Work!!" and We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it!!

ABC Page 60 from the Big Book

KEEP COMING BACK!

ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Click for my wish for you this day
Click for a Message From Barefoot
Barefoot's World
Email Barefoot
On the Web Sept 30, 2002 in the Spirit of Cooperation

Three mighty important things, Pardn'r, LOVE And PEACE and SOBRIETY