“Frothy emotional appeal seldom suffices.” That little line is in the BB in The Doctor’s Opinion. He was talking about what it is that can change the still suffering alcoholic’s life and get them to into sobriety. I was thinking about that today, as the group went around the room and addressed a woman, who was “coming back”. I thought, nor will long dissertations about how so and so was doing. One of the respondents to the woman suggested that maybe all she was hearing was “blah, blah, blah”.
Later, as I was sitting here, I thought, what was the message, which penetrated my mind and got me to this program? I knew instantly. It was the message, which gave me hope for the first time in many years. The message? There’s a place where men and women meet and stay sober together. I heard that through the fog of alcohol, but it was enough for someone, who was on the edge of insanity from alcohol. It was enough to pull me back and save my life.
One thing I know is that I was desperate. I was hanging on by my fingernails. The man who told me about those meetings said something else and that was the clincher. He said that he would get me to those meetings.
I don’t know if anything we can say will help if the person we’re talking to hasn’t reached a bottom. I was thinking that maybe the kindest thing we can say to the alcoholic is that they’re going to die. Alcohol kills…unless we can find a way to stop and get sober. I know that’s where I was headed, when I came here.
Then the thought struck me, it’s still that way with me. I still don’t need to hear a “frothy emotional appeal”. I need to hear the reality of my situation.
I need to hear the truth. That’s what is going to help me stay on the beam. I want to stay sober and and maintain my spiritual condition. My sponsor and all those old timers didn’t sugar coat the truth I needed to hear. If I’m off the beam I don’t want to hear “blah, blah, blah”. Somebody needs to tell me to wake up.
Anyway, I was thinking about this today.