Bill W vs Aunt Jemima

This is a reprint of an article originally published in this blog November, 2004. Enjoy.

Ah yes – the 12 & 12. The “Cliff Notes” to the Big Book – or so I thought.

The 12 X 12 was written as a means of getting the Traditions distributed to the Groups – as a marketing man, I can appreciate a good merchandising strategy when I see one.

After Bill had completed “The Traditions” the groups basically said, “Rules? We doan need no steenkeen rules”.

So it was suggested that Bill write some essays on the 12 Steps. THAT would sell! And they would “attach” the Twelve Traditions to the BACK OF THE BOOK – sort of Piggyback the Traditions – as it were. Pure Genius for the day!.

The strategy worked!

The Traditions – which virtually no- one wanted to buy, was suddenly selling better than Aunt Jemima could sell hotcakes. Everyone was very interested in what Bills experience was on the Steps – and the Traditions got distributed despite the groups. Where I come from that is called “Slick marketing”. Cool eh?

Prior to taking the steps and recovering, the 12 & 12 was worth its face value as a collection of Bill’s insightful, spiritual essays, albeit divinely inspired. After recovering, as with most truly spiritual writings and thought, those essays have come alive because I now can share the in same experience as the author. There are many folks who could probably write essays just as insightful, in my opinion – IF they too have had the spiritual awakening as the result of taking the steps and RECOVERED.

Until I had the spiritual awakening as the result of the steps, Bill’s essays were so far over my head (Although I didn’t think so) that I was never in danger of being embarrassed into realizing that I had no Program. Those 12 & 12 discussion meetings were so watered down by those in the same boat as I, that I could unabashedly say stupid things like “I’m not up to this step yet, BUT“…….. and then proceed to tell everyone all about it for 10 minutes.

What arrogance!

C’mon – we’ve ALL had to sit through crap like that in Open Discussion meetings! (The worst kind) If we could climb out our arrogant overblown heads for a moment – we just might see that this kind of stuff has NO purpose in helping the NEWCOMER (Our Primary Purpose) so forget about, “So what’s the harm – just take what you need and leave the rest”.

You think so eh? Say the WRONG thing and you CAN harm him.

Don’t buy that? Come on into the trenches with ME and those who are doing this deal – listen to the absolute bullshit, heard in meetings, regurgitated like pabulum – that those “Bouncing in and out” are practicing in trying to stay sober.

As good as they are Bill’s perspectives on the steps and Traditions still do not serve the purpose that my Big Book does. My Big Book gives me the clear cut directions on how to take the steps necessary for me to recover.

The book serves me as a review by a man who knew what he was talking about from experience, like a movie or book review.

Who wants to hear discourse about a book, or movies from someone who hasn’t seen or read it? Yet isn’t that what so many AA meetings are like these days?

But these days, having practical experience with practicing the Twelve Steps, the book makes sense to me. It is a great enhancement to my spiritual reading – sort of like Viagra for the recovered soul at times – unless you’ve already had your “Jewels” clipped by the “Just Don’t Drink” crowd. (And ladies, you can have yor’un clipped too, you know?)

But PUHLEEZE! Put the 12 & 12 away until you’ve had a spiritual experience as the result of taking the steps as laid out in the Big Book.

Until then it will be WAY over your head.

Peace,

Danny S

Bill W vs Aunt Jemima

This is a reprint of an article originally published in this blog November, 2004. Enjoy.

Ah yes – the 12 & 12. The “Cliff Notes” to the Big Book – or so I thought.

The 12 X 12 was written as a means of getting the Traditions distributed to the Groups – as a marketing man, I can appreciate a good merchandising strategy when I see one.

After Bill had completed “The Traditions” the groups basically said, “Rules? We doan need no steenkeen rules”.

So it was suggested that Bill write some essays on the 12 Steps. THAT would sell! And they would “attach” the Twelve Traditions to the BACK OF THE BOOK – sort of Piggyback the Traditions – as it were. Pure Genius for the day!.

The strategy worked!

The Traditions – which virtually no- one wanted to buy, was suddenly selling better than Aunt Jemima could sell hotcakes. Everyone was very interested in what Bills experience was on the Steps – and the Traditions got distributed despite the groups. Where I come from that is called “Slick marketing”. Cool eh?

Prior to taking the steps and recovering, the 12 & 12 was worth its face value as a collection of Bill’s insightful, spiritual essays, albeit divinely inspired. After recovering, as with most truly spiritual writings and thought, those essays have come alive because I now can share the in same experience as the author. There are many folks who could probably write essays just as insightful, in my opinion – IF they too have had the spiritual awakening as the result of taking the steps and RECOVERED.

Until I had the spiritual awakening as the result of the steps, Bill’s essays were so far over my head (Although I didn’t think so) that I was never in danger of being embarrassed into realizing that I had no Program. Those 12 & 12 discussion meetings were so watered down by those in the same boat as I, that I could unabashedly say stupid things like “I’m not up to this step yet, BUT“…….. and then proceed to tell everyone all about it for 10 minutes.

What arrogance!

C’mon – we’ve ALL had to sit through crap like that in Open Discussion meetings! (The worst kind) If we could climb out our arrogant overblown heads for a moment – we just might see that this kind of stuff has NO purpose in helping the NEWCOMER (Our Primary Purpose) so forget about, “So what’s the harm – just take what you need and leave the rest”.

You think so eh? Say the WRONG thing and you CAN harm him.

Don’t buy that? Come on into the trenches with ME and those who are doing this deal – listen to the absolute bullshit, heard in meetings, regurgitated like pabulum – that those “Bouncing in and out” are practicing in trying to stay sober.

As good as they are Bill’s perspectives on the steps and Traditions still do not serve the purpose that my Big Book does. My Big Book gives me the clear cut directions on how to take the steps necessary for me to recover.

The book serves me as a review by a man who knew what he was talking about from experience, like a movie or book review.

Who wants to hear discourse about a book, or movies from someone who hasn’t seen or read it? Yet isn’t that what so many AA meetings are like these days?

But these days, having practical experience with practicing the Twelve Steps, the book makes sense to me. It is a great enhancement to my spiritual reading – sort of like Viagra for the recovered soul at times – unless you’ve already had your “Jewels” clipped by the “Just Don’t Drink” crowd. (And ladies, you can have yor’un clipped too, you know?)

But PUHLEEZE! Put the 12 & 12 away until you’ve had a spiritual experience as the result of taking the steps as laid out in the Big Book.

Until then it will be WAY over your head.

Peace,

Danny S

Lifeblood Of The Fellowship

What do you do when you get a hold of a prospect for the Fellowship – and the two of you go to your first meeting together? Do you make sure that he or she goes the best meeting a prospect can EVER go to?

That is the ONE meeting especially designed JUST FOR HIM – the one that will turn him from “Prospect” to “Newcomer”

THE OPEN SPEAKER MEETING.(Originally for non-alcoholic spouses of AA members.)

Or do you tell him something untrue like, “They’re ALL good!”

Open Speaker Meetings are the lifeblood gatherings of Alcoholic Anonymous. Especially the LARGE ones where 100 or more people gather and they don’t drink.

Of course you can get some real doggy talks coming off that podium. It depends on whose “incoming”. But at least there’s a a chance that the “this” message will be carried by someone. The atmosphere of such meetings can be absolutely electric at times – especially during anniversary celebrations. And we are loosing them, as AAs success rate continues to decline and we continue to lose membership.

Thanks to the treatment center mentality of “SHARING” in group therapy environments, more and more un-recovered AAs are flocking instead to discussion meetings.

Somehow the LIE that we can SHARE our way clear of our drinking problem — that if we “Get things off our chest” — then WE WON’T DRINK TODAY, is heard and used as a means to treat alcoholism – and it’s NOT a treatment for alcoholism.

Perhaps it is true for the non-alcoholic. But for the real alcoholic, this is a deadly concept. If you are a real alcoholic . . . . . . . YOU AIN’T “SHARING” YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS ONE BUDDYBOY!

I hope I’ve had my last experience of walking into an AA meetings with a newcomer who must find God or he will die, and instead being deluged with dramas about drug use, babysitters, road rage, or someones opinion about how to stay away from a drink for “Just one more day” 0r whatever dribble they think will meet with some “Amens” from the “Middle-of-the-road solutions” brigades — anything BUT the Program of recovery detailed int he Big Book.

If more people saved all of that crap for their sponsors or the parking lot or even the diners, perhaps we wouldn’t see so many real alcoholics leaving and not coming back because their problem is not being able to stay away from a drink; and he is hearing that OUR problem is our stooooopid relationships, job losses, runs in pantyhose or whatever else someone thinks is important to bore us to death with.

I know, I know…”Oh but I feel so good when I can share my problems”. Just listen to that. Is there anything more self-centered that such a statement? That’s what SPONSORS are for.

Have you ever wondered what would happen to the fellowship happen if “Open discussion meetings” were eliminated? I think half of the AA “members” would go away because there would no longer be anything in it for them. For THEM – forget about the newcomer – for THEM!

Anyone contemplating starting a new meeting PLEEEEZE make it an open speaker meeting or a Big Book Study. Those are THE meetings that save the lives of newcomers. The discussion meetings have become $1 an hour amateur psychoanalysis sessions — and if your ego can’t resist then PLEEEEZE at least make it literature based – preferably the Big Book.

Let’s save some lives and not our precious little self-centered egos.

Peace,

Danny S

Disgusted With Meetings?

Maybe this will help someone: Some time ago, I found myself being disgusted with meetings, especially the discussion meetings. I just HAD to get them out of my life for the most part and I began going solely to speaker meetings instead.

I made sure that my home group was a speaker meeting and that I went on all of the outgoing commitments. You will NOT see me having a discussion meeting as my “Home Group” these days.

Together with the Home Group meeting, that brought me to an average of three speaker meetings a week automatically.

Then if I felt like going to any more than that, I selected either a BBS or another speaker meeting to attend.

That solved the discussion meeting problem for me.

I make sure I get to the speaker meetings a little early as often as I am able. I stay a bit afterwards – usually at least a half hour or more – keeping myself visible and available to the newcomer. (“Arrive early – Stay late”)

Between the outgoing speaking commitments and visibility I get therewith, I get approached for sponsor ship once in a while now. And because I am there before and after the meetings (Observing and getting into conversations with new arrivals) I can also seek out and approach candidates.

My Big Book tells to to “SEARCH OUT” other alcoholics – not to sit in meetings and wait for them to fall into my lap.

Combine this attitude and ACTION with the DAILY prayer my Big Book tells me to do on page 164, I find myself placed in the paths of enough alcoholics with whom I can work.

If this didn’t work, I’d be combing alleyways and going out to third parties for prospects. I have had to do that on occasion int he past, but for the last several years that has not been necessary.

So I go to meetings, not “to see what happens to people who don’t go meetings” – what sick son-of-a-bitch came up with THAT! . . .

. . . but to maintain a healthy newcomer flow in my life. THAT’S where THIS message gets carried – ONE alcoholic talking to another – NOT one alcoholic talking to sixty meeting attendees, to “straighten them out” or correct their watered down message in case a newcomer is sitting in the room. THAT’S too hard on my fragile little ego. HA!

But if I were to pray that page 164 prayer regarding sick and suffering alcoholics and it went unanswered, I would have to re-evaluate my recovery:

“Why has God answered “NO” to my asking to show me?” How is my transmitter?

Might it be that He knows my house is not in order? – that my attempts to transmit could harm someone? If I am so able, if I have been given the power to help others, then why would not God place His business with me? Maybe he knows something I am not able to admit – even to my own self in secret.

Provocative thoughts huh? I’ve been there – and absolute honesty was imperative in accepting an answer. The God of my understanding is only going to tell me the truth – whether I like it or not.

Peace,

Danny S