The e-AA Group

On Saturday in another thread you picked on something I said and commented - “Contrary to some opinion the purpose of AA is to stop drinking and stay sober...” People coming here expect the Purpose of AA to be as is expressed in official AA literature and not the personal opinions of individuals --...

In 19xx I was trying to find my way in AA, and at every meeting there was this tough old American... Now I have nothing against Americans, and find them as friendly and decent as any other race,

Americans are not a "race."

D'oh wrote: Exactly! Every "Successful 12th Step" I have made has started with the 3rd Step Prayer.

I am 100% successful in all my 12th Step work. Of course the people I've 12 stepped aren't quite so fortunate.
Sometimes I take myself a little too darn seriously.

Hi, all. Knowing what to do is not helping me do what I need to. I am 58, lifetime drinker, first got sober around 2001, managed about 8 years at one point, and fell off a couple of years ago. Dual diagnosis (depression). I live alone and have tremendous difficulty with isolation and a powerful int...

I saw a post someone had made about a quiet older lady who turned up for her first meeting and in that meeting lots of people were swearing and the person writing this post noticed (he felt) that she seemed uncomfortable. She never came back. It made me reconsider. I'm happy you reconsidered (wheth...

Hardline is a term some people use for the straight talk Bill W. and other long-timers sober in AA use to help newcomers stay sober. The hardline approach doesn’t work for everyone ... That's correct. The hardline approach only works for those Bill W. calls "real alcoholics" -- those who have tried ...

Some say that referring to "real alcoholics" can run people off. What does the Big Book have to say about "real alcoholics"? How many has the BB run off? Chapter 2. There is a Solution But what about the real alcoholic ? He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous h...

Staying sober for "one day at a time" was a concept that helped me a lot when I first stopped drinking alcohol. Even one hour at a time was something I was striving for then. Occasionally somebody tries to got 'one better' and say something about doing it 'one minute at a time'. One of our more exp...

Your friend saw something he wanted and was willing to go to any length to get it. Since I read your post the first time, I have thought, what an opportunity for the both of you. There is no down side to this. In my 55 years in AA I have seen no harm can come from being sober and having a spiritual ...

You haven't completed the steps and he won't do them without you. Consider doing them together. You both would benefit greatly.

There are many superstitions regarding how to do the steps. There are no hard and fast rules. Do what works.

And good luck.

Very nice contributions to what started out with a few thoughts about staying away from a drink until we were stable not drinking. After our human spirit had awakened by means of steps borrowed from the Oxford Group and other places. Pointing out the Oxford Groups contribution of helping mankind see...

Thats the issue. Some people relate to the craving part so much they stop reading the rest of the book and for them alcoholism is about losing control after taking that first drink. Because they are desperate at that moment, they dive into rest of the steps without the complete understanding of the...

Dr. Bob asking AA #3 if he could make it without a drink for 24 hours was probably the beginning of the culture of sobriety found in AA 80+ years later. #3 was looking at and talking to evidence that he, as he saw himself -- a hopeless alcoholic, could stay sober at least for one day. Every journey ...

Because in my opinion those who overdo this ODAAT business, when referring to staying sober, make our program look very weak, instead of the powerful program it is. Live one day at a time, that’s a good message, and it’s what the book says. The US Supreme Court has ruled that context is decisive. O...

Just as Bill and Dr. Bob suggested to AAer number 3 focusing on 24 hours or One day at a time is a good way to get through those early days without drinking. You hear a lot of One day at a time in meetings because many longer sober members are focusing on the newer people in the meetings. The notion...