Bragging Not Allowed!
This is probably for all you lion taming, white knucklers out there…
From the 12&12 of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 55;
“So intense, though, is our fear and reluctance to do this (talk to somebody), that many A.A.’s at first try to bypass Step Five. We search for an easier way - which usually consists of the general and fairly painless admission that when drinking we were sometimes bad actors. Then, for good measure, we add dramatic descriptions of that part of our drinking behavior which our friends probably know about anyhow.”
You know, stuff exactly like what we did in those glorious gin mills we hung out in…
Somewhere along the way, early on, I more than likely did what many do - go one step further by bragging about their exploits when drinking! I’ve got to tell ya’ - we’re not impressed! Great drunk-a-logue! When do ya’ get sober???
Then, the current twist for a newcomer who isn’t working at changing - “went to a bar the other night and made it through the whole night and didn’t drink!”
We’re still not impressed!
Got a few meetings under your belt and now, out of nowhere, you have some kind of power over alcohol eh? Page 56 tells us more about you. It says: “Few muddled attitudes have caused us more trouble… They will tell how they tried to carry the load alone; how much they suffered of irritability, anxiety, remorse, and depression.”
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Personal, The Fifth Step
2 opinions for Bragging Not Allowed!
Dave
May 5, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I went to my old bar every night for my first 8 months of sobriety. I was sooooooo impressed that I didn’t have anything alcoholic to drink.
My sponsor was not impressed.
Just another reminder to me — it takes what it takes.
Mark
May 5, 2008 at 2:11 pm
:) good sponsors are hard to find :)
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: