Topic for the week: ***How I Made It Through The Holidays***
We have quite a few newcomers to our group so first and foremost I would like to welcome you all to Grow! Please feel free to contact any of us to help you get you started on the Steps or for some additional support during this season and on going. I want to wish everyone in the group a very Merry Christmas!!
One of the usual topics in AA groups this time of year is how to get through the holidays-and is also the topic of this month’s Grapevine Meeting. Since I haven’t seen any responses to the Grapevine topic, I’m just gonna go ahead and use that as this week’s topic which again is “How I Made It Through The Holidays.”
From Grapevine…. “the writer was new in AA, but luckily somehow knew to leave her drinking holiday party. She ran to a nearby AA alkathon, where she found a kind member who helped her until her craving for a drink passed. She ended up staying for several late-night meetings and went home sober. “I have so much gratitude for the person who did that for me,” she writes. ***Note that in order to read entire article, one has to subscribe; however, there is usually one that is available to read in its entirety at aagrapevine.org/emails. ***
My Share….
- 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!
- In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed.
- So our rule is not to avoid a place where there is drinking, if we have a legitimate reason for being there. That includes bars, nightclubs, dances, receptions, weddings, even plain ordinary whoopee parties.To a person who has had experience with an alcoholic, this may seem like tempting Providence, but it isn’t.
- You will note that we made an important qualification. Therefore, ask yourself on each occasion, “Have I any good social, business, or personal reason for going to this place? Or am I expecting to steal a little vicarious pleasure from the atmosphere of such places?”
- If you answer these questions satisfactorily, you need have no apprehension. Go or stay away, whichever seems best. But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good.
- Do not think of what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it. But if you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic instead!
- Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others, so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can be helpful. You should not hesitate to visit the most sordid spot on earth on such an errand. Keep on the firing line of life with these motives and God will keep you unharmed.