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than ourselves.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 60
Recovery Through Giving
For a new prospect, outline the program of action, explaining
how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out
your past, and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to
him. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to
pass this on tohim plays a vital part in your own recovery.
Actualually, he may be helping you more than you are
helping him. Make it plain that he is under no obligation to
you.
In the first six months of my own sobriety, I worked hard with
many alcoholics. Not a one responded. Yet this work kept me
sober. It wasn't a question of those alcoholics giving me
anything. My stability came out of trying to give, not out of
demanding that I receive.
A Higher Power for Atheists
"I have had many experiences with atheists, mostly good.
Everybody in A.A. has the right to his own opinion. It is much
better to maintain an open and tolerant society than it is to
suppress any small disturbances their opinions might
occasion. Actually, I don't know anybody who went off and
died of alcoholism because some atheist's opinions on the
cosmos.
"But I do always entreat these folks to look to a `Higher
Power' -- namely, their own group. When they come in, most
of their A.A. group is sober, and they are drunk. Therefore,
the group is a`Higher Power'. That's a good enough start,
and most of them do progress from there. I know how they
feel, because I was once that way myself."
To Lighten Our Burden
Only one consideration should qualify our desire for a
complete disclosure of the damage we have done. That will
arise where a full revelation would seriously harm the one to
whom we are making amends. Or -- quite as important --
other people. We cannot,for example, unload a detailed
account of extramarital adventuring upon the shoulders of
our unsuspecting wife or husband.
It does not lighten our burden when we recklessly make the
crosses of others heavier.
In making amends, we should be sensible, tactful,
considerate and humble without being servile or scraping.
As God's people we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before
anyone.
Speak Up Without Fear
Few of us are anonymous so far as our daily contacts go. We
have dropped anonymity at this level because we think our
friends and associates ought to know about A.A. and what it
has done dor us. We also wish to lose the fear of admitting
that we are alcoholics. Though we earnestly request
reporters not to disclose our identities, wefrequently speak
before semipublic gatherings. We wish to convince
audiences that our alcoholism is a sickness we no longer
fear to discuss before anyone.
If, however, we venture beyond this limit, we shall surely lose
the principle of anonymity forever. If every A.A. felt free to
publish his own name, picture, and story, we would soon be
launched upon a vast orgy of personal publicity.
"While the so-called public meeting is questioned by many
A.A. members, I favour it myself providing only that
anonymity is respected in press reports and that we ask
nothing for ourselves except understanding."
The Fine Art of Alibis
The majority of A.A. members have suffered severely from
self-justification during their drinking days. For most of us,
self-justification was the maker of excuses for drinking and
for all kinds of crazy and damaging conduct. We had made
the invention of alibis a fine art.
We had to drink because times were hard or times were
good. We had to drink because at home we were smothered
with love or got none at all. We had to drink because at work
we were great successes or dismal failures. We had to drink
because our nation hadwon a war or lost a peace. And so it
went, ad infinitum.
To see how our own erratic emotions victimized us often
took a long time. Where other people were concerned, we
had to drop the word "blame" from our speech and thought.
TWELVE AND TWELVE
Spiritually Fit
Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things
alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said we must
not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our
homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid
moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not
go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go to
their houses; we mustn't think or be reminded about alcohol
at all. Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so.
We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who
cannot meet them still has an alcoholic mind; there is
something the matter with his spiritual status. His only
chance for sobriety would be some place like the Greenland
Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a
bottle of scotch and ruin everything!
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 100-101
Ourselves as Individuals
There is only one sure test of all spiritual experiences: "By
their fruits, ye shall know them."
This is why I think we should question no one's
transformation -- whether it be sudden or gradual. Nor
should we demand anyone's special type for ourselves,

than ourselves.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 60

Recovery Through Giving

For a new prospect, outline the program of action, explaining

how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out

your past, and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to

him. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to

pass this on tohim plays a vital part in your own recovery.

Actualually, he may be helping you more than you are

helping him. Make it plain that he is under no obligation to

you.

In the first six months of my own sobriety, I worked hard with

many alcoholics. Not a one responded. Yet this work kept me

sober. It wasn't a question of those alcoholics giving me

anything. My stability came out of trying to give, not out of

demanding that I receive.

A Higher Power for Atheists

"I have had many experiences with atheists, mostly good.

Everybody in A.A. has the right to his own opinion. It is much

better to maintain an open and tolerant society than it is to

suppress any small disturbances their opinions might

occasion. Actually, I don't know anybody who went off and

died of alcoholism because some atheist's opinions on the

cosmos.

"But I do always entreat these folks to look to a `Higher

Power' -- namely, their own group. When they come in, most

of their A.A. group is sober, and they are drunk. Therefore,

the group is a`Higher Power'. That's a good enough start,

and most of them do progress from there. I know how they

feel, because I was once that way myself."

To Lighten Our Burden

Only one consideration should qualify our desire for a

complete disclosure of the damage we have done. That will

arise where a full revelation would seriously harm the one to

whom we are making amends. Or -- quite as important --

other people. We cannot,for example, unload a detailed

account of extramarital adventuring upon the shoulders of

our unsuspecting wife or husband.

It does not lighten our burden when we recklessly make the

crosses of others heavier.

In making amends, we should be sensible, tactful,

considerate and humble without being servile or scraping.

As God's people we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before

anyone.

Speak Up Without Fear

Few of us are anonymous so far as our daily contacts go. We

have dropped anonymity at this level because we think our

friends and associates ought to know about A.A. and what it

has done dor us. We also wish to lose the fear of admitting

that we are alcoholics. Though we earnestly request

reporters not to disclose our identities, wefrequently speak

before semipublic gatherings. We wish to convince

audiences that our alcoholism is a sickness we no longer

fear to discuss before anyone.

If, however, we venture beyond this limit, we shall surely lose

the principle of anonymity forever. If every A.A. felt free to

publish his own name, picture, and story, we would soon be

launched upon a vast orgy of personal publicity.

"While the so-called public meeting is questioned by many

A.A. members, I favour it myself providing only that

anonymity is respected in press reports and that we ask

nothing for ourselves except understanding."

The Fine Art of Alibis

The majority of A.A. members have suffered severely from

self-justification during their drinking days. For most of us,

self-justification was the maker of excuses for drinking and

for all kinds of crazy and damaging conduct. We had made

the invention of alibis a fine art.

We had to drink because times were hard or times were

good. We had to drink because at home we were smothered

with love or got none at all. We had to drink because at work

we were great successes or dismal failures. We had to drink

because our nation hadwon a war or lost a peace. And so it

went, ad infinitum.

To see how our own erratic emotions victimized us often

took a long time. Where other people were concerned, we

had to drop the word "blame" from our speech and thought.

TWELVE AND TWELVE

Spiritually Fit

Assuming we are spiritually fit, we can do all sorts of things

alcoholics are not supposed to do. People have said we must

not go where liquor is served; we must not have it in our

homes; we must shun friends who drink; we must avoid

moving pictures which show drinking scenes; we must not

go into bars; our friends must hide their bottles if we go to

their houses; we mustn't think or be reminded about alcohol

at all. Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so.

We meet these conditions every day. An alcoholic who

cannot meet them still has an alcoholic mind; there is

something the matter with his spiritual status. His only

chance for sobriety would be some place like the Greenland

Ice Cap, and even there an Eskimo might turn up with a

bottle of scotch and ruin everything!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 100-101

Ourselves as Individuals

There is only one sure test of all spiritual experiences: "By

their fruits, ye shall know them."

This is why I think we should question no one's

transformation -- whether it be sudden or gradual. Nor

should we demand anyone's special type for ourselves,