I remember years ago how AA was then. Meetings were not about personal problems. Personal problems I learned back then were for outside the rooms with our sponsors or close friends in here. And the subject was always about alcohol. The First Tradition. AA unity.
Back then, before rehabs were opened and counselors were really being paid to Twelfth Step and pass their opinions on things they really had no knowledge about onto the struggling alcoholic. In fact I can remember my sponsor and others back then, when we went to meetings, letting alcoholics like myself know that I didn’t know. I only thought I did.
Of course over time I learned that I really didn’t know. In fact my sponsor pointed out to me a truth I needed to hear. That I was educated beyond my intelligence. And when he said that I knew he was right.
I had no idea what alcoholism was about. I didn’t even know anything. I had no idea what an alcoholic was. I knew nothing about his program. It was only after I had surrendered and came into this program and bought my first BB that I read the Doctor’s Opinion and found out what was wrong with me.
I was told to shut up, when I was new and had no idea of what I was talking about. Like my sponsor told me, I only thought I did. How immature I was became apparent over time. As did the control my emotions had over me. I had to learn to take the cotton out of my ears and put it in my mouth and begin to listen. Took a while, but I did begin to learn to listen and listen to learn.
Anyway I was thinking today how much I love this program and how it seems some others want to open this program up to other things. That’s exactly what happened to the alcoholic program back in the 1800s known as the Washingtonians, who had a membership of about quarter million I believe. It had no traditions and it fell apart.
When I came home this subject had come up after the meeting. I have always thought about what one alcoholic once told me, that this program is not a hot bed of mental health. I can identify with that. But like I said I love this program.
Anyway I was thinking about how much I want to stay sober this day, because of what I have learned in here. Thanks so much.