Chapter: 5 - "How It Works"
Subject: The path, constitutionally incapable, rigorous honesty, our stories, any length
- What are those who do not follow this path unable to do?
They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty.
- Are their chances pretty good?
Their chances are less than average.
- What other types of alcoholics can recover?
There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
Depression, anxiety Bipolar disorder, ADD, ADHD - these mental afflictions are not a hindrance from spiritual awakening and full recovery.
- What are our stories supposed to do?
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now.
Comment: "Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened," and what we are like now."
Some folks have a little trouble with this one. They read it as, “What it was like,"What happened out there," and, "What it is like now.”
It very clearly reads, “What WE were like, what happened and what WE are like now.”
Tell about YOU! What kind of a person were you? What was your character like? Depict your dishonesty, your fear, your self-seeking.
C’mon we know if you are a real alkie, then that’s how you "were". You were a self-centered creep. You stole from people you claim to have loved. You treated people like crap and wasted your life into the toilet. That's a fact. The stigma you have - you earned! It's yours. Face it. Don't hide it. Shame will save your life.
(Forget about that stupid PR campaign to try and "outlaw" stigma. That's to sell a commercial, "professional" services.) You've been a prick! But you are willing to be changed.Show us you are one of us! QUALIFY! Assuming that certain character defects have been removed as foretold by the Big book co-authors for spiritually awakening - and you are able to speak unabashedly in the tense with regard to these.
It already is obvious that what "IT" was like wasn’t too good or we would never have come to this bunch of all-time losers sitting in a church basement.
Too, with so very few speaker meetings in so many AA localities, the stories contained in this Book are very important reading for newcomers.
From the hope newcomers get by hearing/reading the stories of Recovered Alcoholics do they begin to have the willingness to decide to give our Program a try.
PS: “in a general way” – PLEASE! (Some of us may have just eaten dinner. Thank you.)
Some folks have a little trouble with this one. They read it as, “What it was like,"What happened out there," and, "What it is like now.”
It very clearly reads, “What WE were like, what happened and what WE are like now.”
Tell about YOU! What kind of a person were you? What was your character like? Depict your dishonesty, your fear, your self-seeking.
C’mon we know if you are a real alkie, then that’s how you "were". You were a self-centered creep. You stole from people you claim to have loved. You treated people like crap and wasted your life into the toilet. That's a fact. The stigma you have - you earned! It's yours. Face it. Don't hide it. Shame will save your life.
(Forget about that stupid PR campaign to try and "outlaw" stigma. That's to sell a commercial, "professional" services.) You've been a prick! But you are willing to be changed.Show us you are one of us! QUALIFY! Assuming that certain character defects have been removed as foretold by the Big book co-authors for spiritually awakening - and you are able to speak unabashedly in the tense with regard to these.
It already is obvious that what "IT" was like wasn’t too good or we would never have come to this bunch of all-time losers sitting in a church basement.
Too, with so very few speaker meetings in so many AA localities, the stories contained in this Book are very important reading for newcomers.
From the hope newcomers get by hearing/reading the stories of Recovered Alcoholics do they begin to have the willingness to decide to give our Program a try.
PS: “in a general way” – PLEASE! (Some of us may have just eaten dinner. Thank you.)
- If you want what this program has to offer, what must you do?
If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it-then you are ready to take certain steps.
Can you guess which steps those are? Certainly!
Peace and Love,
Danny S – RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic
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