An Easier, Softer Prettier Big Book?

No Pretty Answer

If we were to re-edit-not rewrite – the Big Book for use in a classroom one of the first things a professional editor in the educational textbook publishing business would do – without changing a single word of the author’s writing – would be to add and subtitles to chapters – with headings and subheading within those chapter s that tell the student what each specific topic and sets of ideas were being covered at many given moment. Then it would all then be indexed.

It makes textbooks look “purdy” – and it allows for easy referencing when looking something up “on the fly”. It is for the convenience of the student and unattractive books do not sell well in the textbook publishing and marketing business. It can be a very competitive field and when done right produces levels of profit for publishing houses and authors that would stagger you and me before a shot of straight Yukon Jack could reach our livers.

Apparently the Big Book co-authors were not interested in doing things for our convenience.

Alcoholics interested in learning how they achieved victory over alcoholism had to take the whole kit and caboodle without getting any cherry-picking privileges. I suppose we are lucky that they used Chapter Titles at all!

They thought that they had a corner on the market – since their book would contain a solution for alcoholism – a solution which has existed since the beginning of mankind but had not been packaged and sold to specific target – the real alcoholic. They felt that they were the first to “wholesale” the solution they had found in the form of a book written by alcoholics for alcoholics. It is not a “How To” work but a “How We Did It” volume.

There is nothing in recorded AA history which suggests that this was any sort of group conscious effort – but if it was, it was nothing short of pure genius. If not pure human genius then that leaves only one other explanation: Pure Divinity – God Genius – or laziness – whatever.

In the “Amends” section of the Big Book – which runs from page 76 through page 84, each “type” of amends is discussed separately. There are six sections in all. It might look like this if we did get it to an editor:

ANY LENGTH FOR VICTORY
Setting Right Past Mistakes

General amends guidelines ……….. 76
What to say – Not say ……. 76, 77
Expectations……………….77

Financial Harms………………….…78

Criminal Offenses………………..…78, 79, 80

Domestic Troubles ………………….80
Infidelity …………………………………81
Reparation.………………………………82

Family Relationships……………. 82, 83

Ninth Step Promises.……………..83, 84

Are you beginning to get the idea that maybe the last person you heard say, “The Big Book is poorly written” just maybe had not ever seriously read it – or used it as it was designed – as a textbook? Sure lots of people read the stories in the back of the book. Sure they periodically look up a quote here and there. They might even attend Big Book meetings which are more akin to the “Story Hour” at the local library where my kids go to hear a local author perform a reading of his latest Young Reader story.

Now all we have to do it hire an illustrator and we are all set to change the world AGAIN – like the co-authors did. What I’ve written above isn’t creative at all – no snappy heads or subheads but you get the idea – and not one word of the Big Book is any different because no one has injected their ego into it. BUT it would be a very different book – one that I may NEVER have used properly and instead – like any impatient alcoholic would, thumb through it looking for immediate fixes for immediate problems WITHOUT TAKING THE STEPS.

There is nothing good to be gained by EVER making the Big Book easier to use. Movements like AWOL and institutions like Hazelton have tried and tried.

Wally P came up with marketing the “Back-To-Basics” material and while it has helped many people recover – even THAT gets abused. People write and sell books and “Guides” on “HOW TO TAKE THE STEPS” – and they may as well just piss into a stiff wind.

If it isn’t one-alcoholic-talking-to another and unless the result is a spiritual awakening that allows us to be of maximum service to God and our fellows, then it is ALL BULLSHIT. If the result is to bolster abstinence – it’s bullshit. If the result is serenity – it’s bullshit. If the result is acceptance – it’s DOUBLE bullshit.

It isn’t only WHAT they did – it is just as much HOW they did it. So many of us want to do IT – we want to have a spiritual awakening – but don’t want to undertake the drastic and extreme METHOD proposed.

Say man
Hey baby
I saw your wife the other day
Yeah
Yeah, an’ she’s ug-leeee
Yeah, she’s ugly
But she sure can cook, baby
Yeah, alright

Jimmy Soul “If You Wanna Be Happy”

My Big Book COOKS Baby! You may think it’s ugleeeee – but we eat good around here — and that is a beautiful thing!

Peace,

Danny S

An Easier, Softer Prettier Big Book?

No Pretty Answer

If we were to re-edit-not rewrite – the Big Book for use in a classroom one of the first things a professional editor in the educational textbook publishing business would do – without changing a single word of the author’s writing – would be to add and subtitles to chapters – with headings and subheading within those chapter s that tell the student what each specific topic and sets of ideas were being covered at many given moment. Then it would all then be indexed.

It makes textbooks look “purdy” – and it allows for easy referencing when looking something up “on the fly”. It is for the convenience of the student and unattractive books do not sell well in the textbook publishing and marketing business. It can be a very competitive field and when done right produces levels of profit for publishing houses and authors that would stagger you and me before a shot of straight Yukon Jack could reach our livers.

Apparently the Big Book co-authors were not interested in doing things for our convenience.

Alcoholics interested in learning how they achieved victory over alcoholism had to take the whole kit and caboodle without getting any cherry-picking privileges. I suppose we are lucky that they used Chapter Titles at all!

They thought that they had a corner on the market – since their book would contain a solution for alcoholism – a solution which has existed since the beginning of mankind but had not been packaged and sold to specific target – the real alcoholic. They felt that they were the first to “wholesale” the solution they had found in the form of a book written by alcoholics for alcoholics. It is not a “How To” work but a “How We Did It” volume.

There is nothing in recorded AA history which suggests that this was any sort of group conscious effort – but if it was, it was nothing short of pure genius. If not pure human genius then that leaves only one other explanation: Pure Divinity – God Genius – or laziness – whatever.

In the “Amends” section of the Big Book – which runs from page 76 through page 84, each “type” of amends is discussed separately. There are six sections in all. It might look like this if we did get it to an editor:

ANY LENGTH FOR VICTORY
Setting Right Past Mistakes

General amends guidelines ……….. 76
What to say – Not say ……. 76, 77
Expectations……………….77

Financial Harms………………….…78

Criminal Offenses………………..…78, 79, 80

Domestic Troubles ………………….80
Infidelity …………………………………81
Reparation.………………………………82

Family Relationships……………. 82, 83

Ninth Step Promises.……………..83, 84

Are you beginning to get the idea that maybe the last person you heard say, “The Big Book is poorly written” just maybe had not ever seriously read it – or used it as it was designed – as a textbook? Sure lots of people read the stories in the back of the book. Sure they periodically look up a quote here and there. They might even attend Big Book meetings which are more akin to the “Story Hour” at the local library where my kids go to hear a local author perform a reading of his latest Young Reader story.

Now all we have to do it hire an illustrator and we are all set to change the world AGAIN – like the co-authors did. What I’ve written above isn’t creative at all – no snappy heads or subheads but you get the idea – and not one word of the Big Book is any different because no one has injected their ego into it. BUT it would be a very different book – one that I may NEVER have used properly and instead – like any impatient alcoholic would, thumb through it looking for immediate fixes for immediate problems WITHOUT TAKING THE STEPS.

There is nothing good to be gained by EVER making the Big Book easier to use. Movements like AWOL and institutions like Hazelton have tried and tried.

Wally P came up with marketing the “Back-To-Basics” material and while it has helped many people recover – even THAT gets abused. People write and sell books and “Guides” on “HOW TO TAKE THE STEPS” – and they may as well just piss into a stiff wind.

If it isn’t one-alcoholic-talking-to another and unless the result is a spiritual awakening that allows us to be of maximum service to God and our fellows, then it is ALL BULLSHIT. If the result is to bolster abstinence – it’s bullshit. If the result is serenity – it’s bullshit. If the result is acceptance – it’s DOUBLE bullshit.

It isn’t only WHAT they did – it is just as much HOW they did it. So many of us want to do IT – we want to have a spiritual awakening – but don’t want to undertake the drastic and extreme METHOD proposed.

Say man
Hey baby
I saw your wife the other day
Yeah
Yeah, an’ she’s ug-leeee
Yeah, she’s ugly
But she sure can cook, baby
Yeah, alright

Jimmy Soul “If You Wanna Be Happy”

My Big Book COOKS Baby! You may think it’s ugleeeee – but we eat good around here — and that is a beautiful thing!

Peace,

Danny S

Sweet Promises

“The Ninth Step Promises” are sweet for sure. Still, to me they pale when contrasted with the Tenth Step promises. Now THOSE are something into which I can REALLY sink teeth.

We don’t hear of them in meetings much – perhaps because they point too handily toward to
Power greater than ourselves which is God.

Neither the Ninth or Tenth Step promises is extravagant, because they are far too common amongst we who meet the ‘conditions’ of each. Many of us are doing the deal. The condition of the Ninth Step promises being “if we work for them”. That means that if I do not work for them then there is little hope of them ever materializing.

The condition of the Tenth Step promises is ‘if we keep in fit spiritual condition.

Experience also abundantly confirms to me that to let up, or ‘rest on my laurels’, results in my being sent back DOWN the down UP escalator – just by standing.

If I keep in fit spiritual condition AND work for them, I am guaranteed that I WILL receive all of the promises of both steps Nine and Ten. My experience in both cases is that they do indeed come true.

My experience also abundantly confirms to me that to let up, or ‘rest on my laurels’, results in my being sent back DOWN the down UP escalator – just by standing still.

Staying on that ride brings me straight to the basement
where that insidious insanity of the next first-drink lurks in wait.

The maintenance portion of the Program I follow does not call for getting spiritual, being spiritual, reading spiritual or feeling spiritual.

It DOES call for spiritual GROWTH. I know people who get a little “happy feeling” after a prayer one day – the next they are Jesus Christ. There is no way I am going to stay sober and helpful to others riding on a spiritual awakening or holy orgasm I had two years or one week ago. I’ve got to GROW to stay in the deal – or else I am OUT!

I think many of us get the promises of sobriety – of establishing a relationship with God – a taste of spirituality and its so darned good we go with THAT. It’s better than what we had.

But it’s only the tip of the iceberg. AA is a spiritual Kindergarten, not a spiritual paradise. There IS a lot of heaven to be found when we begin to live in the Fourth Dimension – but there is so much more. The co-authors knew that they knew only a little. MOTRs LOVE to toss out that line, out of context to PROVE that what we DO know is probably wrong. If only they knew how foolish that sounds.

Peace,

Danny S

A Free Dose Of Gratitude

Friends do I have your attention? GOOD.

Did you say you wanted more promises? You say the ninth step Promises are too far down the line to wait for? You say you need some concrete evidence that all this Step work is going to be worth YOUR PRECIOUS time.?

Well fear not friends because the co-authors of the Big Book have got you covered. For a limited time, and a limited time only,* they have got some promises for you right now, – right in Step Three.

Just look at these Promises in Step Three:

1) Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program. (On men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves). (58:1)

2) The result was nil until we let go absolutely. (From
trying to hold on to our old ideas) (58:3)

3) Without help it is too much for us. (On letting
go completely) (59:0)

4) But there is One who has all power-that One is God. (59:0)

5) Half measures availed us nothing. (59:1)

6) No one among us has been able to maintain anything
like perfect adherence to these principles. (60:1)

7) We were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (60:2)

8) Probably no human power could have relieved our
alcoholism. (60:2)

9) God could and would if He were sought. (60:2)

10) Any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. (60:4)

11) On that basis we are almost always in collision
with something or somebody, even though our motives
are good. (By running life on self-will) (60:4)

12) That, we think, is the root of our troubles. (On
Selfishness-self-centeredness) (62:1)

13) Our troubles, we think, are basically of our own
making. (62:2)

14) Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of
this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! (62:2)

15) God makes that possible.(Getting rid of selfishness)(62:2)

16) There often seems no way of entirely getting rid of
self without His aid. (62:2)

17) Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much
by wishing or trying on our own power. (62:2)

18) We had to have God’s help. (On reducing
self-centeredness much) (62:2)

19) We had to quit playing God. It didn’t work (62:3)

But that’s not all friends!

Take step three TODAY - before midnight tonight – and receive a free, that’s right – A FREE dose of gratitude. (I strongly suggest you do so on your knees – with your sponsor and use the Third Step prayer.)

Now you don’t have to wait till Step 9 for some amazement in your life. With step three you can start amazing your friends and amazing your family too, starting today.* Don’t let the slogan spouting, ten meeting a week going, jug plugging, not just not drinking today – easy does it, middle-of-the-road solutions based fellowshippers dissuade you!

Operators are standing by.**

Peace,

Danny S

* Offer expires if Step 4 is not begun immediately.

** Operators are sponsors who have experienced these same promises by having turned THEIR lives and wills over the care of God. Use of Light bulbs, doorknobs and other earthly objects will invalidate this offer. Offer void where prohibited by dishonesty.

The Never Ending Story

Is it OK to take years to make amends? I don’t mean amends that honestly cannot be made, but current, known harms which need to be corrected (as opposed to apologized for) today, tonight or this week.

There is always a possibility that an amends which could not be made due to the “harming others” factor – but how often does that really happen? And knows if it ever will?

No one. If someone puts off making an uncomfortable amends TODAY, one that CAN be made if only it would, and that person is still suffering from untreated alcoholism, un-manageability, unrealized 9th step promises (Unfinished amends) yet, that they have “done the steps” when in fact they haven’t – those folks can and ARE poor examples of recovery. They may not advertise that they still have unfinished amends, but they tell roomfuls of people and newcomers that they have done the work – when in fact they have not.

One look at their deportment, how they react to the stresses of the world around them and move about in the Fellowship can be a very sad walking billboard for recovery. Who would want it?

There are plenty of us out here who relapse because they were not willing to make an amends for a harm. We don’t want to buy the airplane tickets, we don’t want to pay for the gas, we don’t want to “harm” our fragile finances by entering into a “payment schedule” we’ve decided we cannot afford for lack of faith in God. In other words, we still will “dodge” old creditors”. (And maybe newer ones too)

We drink. But before that, we suffer in un-manageability, perhaps for a very long time. All because we were not willing to do whatever is necessary to straighten out the past and become of “maximum service to God and the people about us.” (77:0)

Peace,

Danny S

http://recoveredalcoholic.blogspot.com

Let’s Boogie, man!

Step Four was a boogieman.

Once I got to it, instead of the pain racked, fear producing task that it had been made out to be by people sharing in meetings, it turned out to be one of the most gratifying and joy producing things I had ever done in my life. I had spent years in AA hearing how difficult and hard it was – but it wasn’t.

It seems an arduous job when making the initial first column resentment list- but then as I proceeded down the 2^nd, 3rd and finally 4^th column something happened that I did not expect. There was not “OH NO, I am such a rotten person” feeling. It was much more of a “So THAT’S what’s been going on with me all these years”.

Instead of “Please. I can’t look. No more” – it was “Yes. Thank you God. Show me MORE! Please!”

By the time I was satisfied it was complete – I could not wait to take my 5^th Step with my sponsor. The gratitude for being shown what the problem with me had been all of my life was nearly overwhelming. My fears were beginning to melt like a Mr. Softee cone in August.

I had even heard folks tell stories about how they had heard of people drinking on their fourth step, committing suicide – and other such nonsense. ALL of it heresy and non of it based on their own experiences. Others are discourage from the steps using the fourth step as a great fear producer – instead of encouraging them with the great 4^th Step promises.

I know when a sponsor is having is having us follow the directions as they are presented in the Big Book we won’t have a problem. Its as easy as making Jell-O – as long as we follow the directions without changing them.

(Some sponsors complicate it and DO make it hard and complicated by adding and changing the process. Like writing stories, or not using the columnar format outlined on page 65, listing “assets” along with liabilities. All Extras that spoil the process and transform something simple into a daunting task. Please don’t fall for that. I have )

Don’t add extra water, don’t leave any out. It’ll come out perfectly gelled and deliciously sweet in the end. A fearless, searching inventory is nothing to fear, really. Hell, it’s just lots of swallowing.

I’ve listed the 4^th Step Promises Below. You’ll see that Step Four is a FEAR REMOVER – not a fear producer. That’s’ a Promise and also my experience. Stick to what works and you’ll get them all as you move along. And don’t forget to pray for guidance each time you write.

If I can’t do a fourth step at least ONCE – how will I EVER be able to do a daily inventory – every night before I go to bed?

Some Fourth Step Promises

• 1.When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. (64:3)
• 2. Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty. (65:3)
• 3. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it (resentment) is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die. (66:1)
• 4. If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. (66:2)
• 5. We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future. (66:3)
• 6. We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. (66:3)
• 7. This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick.
• Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were Sick too. (66:4)
• 8. We cannot be helpful to all people, but at least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one. (67:4)
• 9. “Fear” This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune. (67:3)
• 10. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity. (68:2)
• 16. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear. (68:3)
• 17. If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. (70:1)
• 13. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. (70:1)
• 14. If we have been thorough about our personal inventory, we have written down a lot. (70:3)
• 15. We have listed and analyzed our resentments. (70:3)
• 16. We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. (70:3)
• 17. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. (70:3)
• 18. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people. (70:3)
• 19. We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can. (70:3)

Peace,

Danny S