29th Recovery Birthday Facebook Post (7.15.2015)—Anne L On July 7, 1986, 29 years ago, I woke up sick, shamed, hungover, and in deep animal confusion. I woke up this way most mornings. Why couldn’t I stop after 6 or 7 drinks? Why didn’t I have an “off” switch when I had that first drink every day? Well, “Why?” is not … Read More
A Pre-Fifth Step Prayer – Lifeline 2016
God, please help me to complete my housecleaning by admitting to another human being the exact nature of my wrongs. Please remove any fears I have about this step and show me how completion of it will remove my egotism and fear. Help me to see how this step builds my character through humility, fearlessness and honesty. Direct me to … Read More
No Tourists Allowed: Seeking Inner Peace and Sobriety in War-Torn Sudan (Excerpt) – Shannon E_Lifeline 2016
No Tourists Allowed: Seeking Inner Peace and Sobriety in War-Torn Sudan (Excerpt) by Shannon E. As I sit here soaking in lavender oil and the ease of Sunday morning, I reflect fondly on the irreverent way I left war-torn Sudan. I was, in every sense, a heartbroken girl fleeing in a panic, and due to my PTSD I was headed for the … Read More
A Long Way Home – Veronique L _Lifeline2016
The first time I admitted to another human being, and probably to myself, that I was an alcoholic was to my then husband. We were at one of his friend’s wedding and I had to stay in the car because I was so drunk and was having a meltdown. A couple of weeks before, I had spent five nights in … Read More
Tradition Four – Ron K_Lifeline2016
Tradition Four While answering the telephones at Central Office, on several occasions I received a call of this nature: “Group is doing it wrong. Something has to be done. Call the AA Police.” Sorry there is no AA Police. In my home group, on the last meeting of the month, the current chair asks for a volunteer to chair for … Read More
Step Four Myth Buster – Sarah K_Lifeline2016
Step Four Myth Buster Myth #1 “Writing a 4th step takes a Long Time.” I began my first 4th step with gusto, and then proceeded to ignore it for 3 months. Whenever someone would ask what step I was on I would tell them step 4 and then make a very sincere face implying, “And you know how hard that … Read More
Pamphlet of the Month – “The 12 Traditions Illustrated ”_Lifeline 2016
The Twelve Traditions A Distillation of A.A. Experience (excerpt) As newcomers, many of us say to ourselves, “Let the group officers worry about the Traditions. I’m just an average member. They’re rules for running groups, aren’t they? And everybody tells me, ‘There are no rules in A.A.’!” Then we look closer—and find that the Traditions are not rules—and they are … Read More