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strength which he had hitherto denied himself.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 106-107
Room for Improvement
We have come to believe that A.A.'s recovery Steps and
Traditions represent the approximate truths which we need
for our particular purpose. The more we practice them, the
more we like them. So there is little doubt that A.A. principles
will continue to be advocated in the form they stand now.
If our basis are so firmly fixed as all this, then what is there
left to change or to improve?
The answer will immediately occur to us. While we need not
alter our truths, we can surely improve their application to
ourselves, to A.A. as a whole, and to our relation with the
world around us. We can constantly step up the practice of
"these principles in all our affairs."
GRAPEVINE, FEBRUARY 1961
Keystone of the Arch
Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as openminded on spiritual matters. In this respect alcohol was a
great persuader. It finally beat us into a state of
reasonableness.
We had to quit playing God. It didn't work. We decided that
hereafter, in this drama of life, God was going to be our
Director. He would be the Principal; we, His agents.
Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the
keystone of the new and triumphal arch through which we
passed to freedom.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Will Power and Choice
"We A.A.'s know the futility of trying to break the drinking
obsession by will power alone. However, we do know that it
takes great willingness to adopt A.A.'s Twelve Steps as a way
of life that can restore us to sanity.
"No matter how grievious the alcohol obsession, we happily
find that other vital choices still be made. For example, we
can choose to admitthat we are personally powerless over
alcohol; that dependence upon a `Higher Power' is a
necessity, even if this be simply dependence upon an A.A.
group. Then we can choose to try for a life of honesty and
humility, of selfless service to our fellows and to `God as we
understand Him.'
"As we continue to make these choices and so move toward
these high aspirations, our sanity returns and the
compulsion to drink vanishes."
Review the Day
When we retire at night, we constructively review our day.
Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe
an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which
should be discussed with another person at once? Were we
kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better?
Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we
thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could
pack into the stream of life?
We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid
reflections, for that would diminish our usefulness to
ourselves and to others. After making our review we ask
God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures
should be taken.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 86
To Watch Loneliness Vanish
Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by
loneliness. Even before our drinking got bad and people
began to cut us off, nearly all of us suffered the feeling that
we didn't quite belong. Either we were shy, and dared not
draw near others, or wewere noisy good fellows constantly
craving attention and companionship, but rarely getting it.
There was always that mysterious barrier we could neither
surmount nor understand.
That's one reason we loved alcohol too well. But even
Bacchus betrayed us; we were finally struck down and left in
terrified isolation.
Life takes on new meaning in A.A. 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 not to be missed.
Courage and Prudence
When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we
became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as
a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage
which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.
Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear
sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of
recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a
definite climate, the only climate in which harmony,
effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be
achieved.
"Prudence is rational concern without worry."
Walking Toward Serenity
"When I was tired and couldn't concentrate, I used to fall
back on an affirmation toward life that took the form of
simple walking and deep breathing. I sometimes told myself
that I couldn't do even this -- that I was to weak. But I learned
that this was the point at which I could not give in without
becoming still more depressed.
"So I would set myself a small stint. I would determine to
walk a quarter of a mile. And I would concentrate by counting
my breathing -- say, six steps to each slow inhalation and
four to each exhalation. Having done the quarter-mile, I found
that I could go on, maybe a half-mile more. Then another
half-mile, and maybe another.
"This was encouraging. The false sense of physical

strength which he had hitherto denied himself.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 106-107

Room for Improvement

We have come to believe that A.A.'s recovery Steps and

Traditions represent the approximate truths which we need

for our particular purpose. The more we practice them, the

more we like them. So there is little doubt that A.A. principles

will continue to be advocated in the form they stand now.

If our basis are so firmly fixed as all this, then what is there

left to change or to improve?

The answer will immediately occur to us. While we need not

alter our truths, we can surely improve their application to

ourselves, to A.A. as a whole, and to our relation with the

world around us. We can constantly step up the practice of

"these principles in all our affairs."

GRAPEVINE, FEBRUARY 1961

Keystone of the Arch

Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as openminded on spiritual matters. In this respect alcohol was a

great persuader. It finally beat us into a state of

reasonableness.

We had to quit playing God. It didn't work. We decided that

hereafter, in this drama of life, God was going to be our

Director. He would be the Principal; we, His agents.

Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the

keystone of the new and triumphal arch through which we

passed to freedom.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Will Power and Choice

"We A.A.'s know the futility of trying to break the drinking

obsession by will power alone. However, we do know that it

takes great willingness to adopt A.A.'s Twelve Steps as a way

of life that can restore us to sanity.

"No matter how grievious the alcohol obsession, we happily

find that other vital choices still be made. For example, we

can choose to admitthat we are personally powerless over

alcohol; that dependence upon a `Higher Power' is a

necessity, even if this be simply dependence upon an A.A.

group. Then we can choose to try for a life of honesty and

humility, of selfless service to our fellows and to `God as we

understand Him.'

"As we continue to make these choices and so move toward

these high aspirations, our sanity returns and the

compulsion to drink vanishes."

Review the Day

When we retire at night, we constructively review our day.

Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe

an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which

should be discussed with another person at once? Were we

kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better?

Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we

thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could

pack into the stream of life?

We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid

reflections, for that would diminish our usefulness to

ourselves and to others. After making our review we ask

God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures

should be taken.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 86

To Watch Loneliness Vanish

Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by

loneliness. Even before our drinking got bad and people

began to cut us off, nearly all of us suffered the feeling that

we didn't quite belong. Either we were shy, and dared not

draw near others, or wewere noisy good fellows constantly

craving attention and companionship, but rarely getting it.

There was always that mysterious barrier we could neither

surmount nor understand.

That's one reason we loved alcohol too well. But even

Bacchus betrayed us; we were finally struck down and left in

terrified isolation.

Life takes on new meaning in A.A. 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 not to be missed.

Courage and Prudence

When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we

became able to handle it. We began to see each adversity as

a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage

which is born of humility, rather than of bravado.

Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear

sailing between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of

recklessness on the other. Prudence in practice creates a

definite climate, the only climate in which harmony,

effectiveness, and consistent spiritual progress can be

achieved.

"Prudence is rational concern without worry."

Walking Toward Serenity

"When I was tired and couldn't concentrate, I used to fall

back on an affirmation toward life that took the form of

simple walking and deep breathing. I sometimes told myself

that I couldn't do even this -- that I was to weak. But I learned

that this was the point at which I could not give in without

becoming still more depressed.

"So I would set myself a small stint. I would determine to

walk a quarter of a mile. And I would concentrate by counting

my breathing -- say, six steps to each slow inhalation and

four to each exhalation. Having done the quarter-mile, I found

that I could go on, maybe a half-mile more. Then another

half-mile, and maybe another.

"This was encouraging. The false sense of physical