Posts by: Rick W.

Hope & Hopeless: The Gift of Step One

Hope & Hopeless: The Gift of Step One

There is a strange paradox at the heart of recovery: it begins not with hope, but with hopelessness. Step One in the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous says, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.” This admission isn’t theoretical. It isn’t poetic. It’s not a polite nod toward the idea that …

Our Mess Becomes Our Message

Our Mess Becomes Our Message

Since getting sober, have you ever said to yourself, “OH HELL NO! I’ll never share that,” or “What could possibly come from me dredging up THAT mess again?” I don’t know about you, but when I did my 4th and 5th Steps, I came face to face with not only a bunch of character defects …

On Forgiveness

On Forgiveness

I was sitting in a spiritual book study this morning and the topic of forgiveness came up. I love how in this particular study group that it’s a true discussion, learning, and sharing session. We are allowed to ask dumb questions (or at least questions WE think are dumb). One of the women in the …

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

I was recently in a book study with a group of spiritually like-minded people and we were discussing the difference between "knowledge" and "wisdom." So, as I often do, I went to get the definitions of the two words to see what I could learn: Knowledge (noun): acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from ...

On Making Your Bed

On Making Your Bed

On Sunday, November 2, 2024 (which is getting close to being 4 months ago at the time of this writing), I had literally nothing on my calendar for that day except to go to church. Having a “free” Sunday is very unusual for me, but I was grateful. At that same time, I was going …

The Ashes Behind Me

The Ashes Behind Me

I was sitting in a meeting tonight at my home group and we were reading, “Doctor Bob’s Nightmare.” It was an amazing meeting and as members were sharing their identification with Dr. Bob, one of our members shared something that their sponsor had shared with them I don’t think I’d ever heard around the topic …

A Step Six Exercise

A Step Six Exercise

On this Christmas Eve, I sat down this morning with one of my sponsees to read about Step Six. He and I have already taken the Steps together and when we were done, we decided to go back and spend some time specifically on Steps Six and Seven by reading (together) a non-Conference approved piece …

Inventory: Why?

Inventory: Why?

What Does a 4th Step Have To Do With Not Drinking? When I first came into A.A., I had no understanding of why it was important for me to look at my life and how I had caused hurt & harm to those around me. I had no idea why inventory was a serious thing. …

Unity

Unity

Hello family, my name is Rick, and I’m an alcoholic. My sobriety date is November 17, 1987. I want to start off with a blanket statement: “The capacity of Alcoholics Anonymous to accept change – has been central to its ability to remain relevant.” So, what does a statement like that really mean? In short …

Practical Experience Shows….

Practical Experience Shows….

Recently at my home group in a literature discussion meeting, the chair chose to read from page 95 in the chapter, Working With Others, and started with the first paragraph… “PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as ­intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail.” They …