High and low, rich and poor, these are future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous. Two of the members of Alcoholics Anonymous came to see me. After reading this book, a junior executive can go to such a man and say approximately this, Look here, Ed. Whether you're new to AA, or you're a seasoned veteran, this is the easiest and most useful app to aid in your recovery. It boils right down to this: No man should be fired just because he is alcoholic. When they become too dangerous, we think the kind thing is to lock them up, but of course a good doctor should always be consulted. When the thought was expressed that there might be a God personal to me this feeling was intensified. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. While you were drinking, you were withdrawing from life little by little. Thus we find the fellowship, and so will you. Two days later, a future fellow of Alcoholics Anonymous stared glassily at the strangers beside his bed. 164. We believe and hope it contains all you will need to begin. If you act upon these principles, your husband may stop or moderate. A look at the alcoholic in your organization is many times illuminating. Coming to his senses, he is revolted at certain episodes he vaguely remembers. What usually happens? He too, has become a respected and useful member of his community. But, as with most humans, he is more likely to have varied traits. My intellectual heroes, the chemists, the astronomers, even the evolutionists, suggested vast laws and forces at work. Many of us in the Fellowship have heard The Promises at the end of many meetings. Never avoid these responsibilities, but be sure you are doing the right thing if you assume them. 1944. When they talked of a God personal to me, who was love, superhuman strength and direction, I became irritated and my mind snapped shut against such a theory. Both you and the new man must walk day by day in the path of spiritual progress. We all have sex problems. Our friends gorge rose as he bitterly cried out: If there is a God, He certainly hasnt done anything for me! But later, alone in his room, he asked himself this question: Is it possible that all the religious people I have known are wrong? While pondering the answer he felt as though he lived in hell. We meet frequently so that newcomers may find the fellowship they seek. Club Savoy Events, He would phone a clergyman. And with us, to drink is to die. Bills Story. About half our original fellowship were of exactly that type. Some of the contemporaries of Columbus thought a round earth preposterous. How can such a lack of proportion, of the ability to think straight, be called anything else? Francisco Morato, Franco da Rocha, Indaiatuba, Itatiba, Itupeva, Jarinu, Joanpolis, Louveira, Morungaba, For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. In some circumstances we have gone out deliberately to get drunk, feeling ourselves justified by nervousness, anger, worry, depression, jealousy or the like. Yet often such men had spectacular and powerful recoveries. It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock-in-trade. Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book First 164. We are not saints. You cannot see why it should be to anyone else, save the spineless and stupid. If he feels free to discuss his problems with you, if he knows you under-stand and will not be upset by anything he wishes to say, he will probably be off to a fast start. We were grateful that Reason had brought us so far. The courage to do battle was not there. He was sober. Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements. Though the family does not fully agree with dads spiritual activities, they should let him have his head. Aint it grand the wind stopped blowin?. Four: You may have a husband of whom you completely despair. You should not be offended if he wants to call it off, for he has helped you more than you have helped him. Is he not unconsciously trying to see what he can take from the family life rather than give? Helping others is the foundation stone of your recovery. This is particularly true of women. 4.61. As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. He has helped other men recover, and is a power in the church from which he was long absent. No outsider can appraise such an intimate situation. Every attempt failed. His present views ought to prove exceptionally useful to business men everywhere. Of what is he thinking? This seemed to me like an opportunity to be helpful, so I spent two hours talking about alcoholism, the malady, and described the symptoms and results as well as I could. And so I did. Included is all material from inside the front cover through page 164, plus Appendices I (Traditions) and II (Spiritual Experience). I woke up. That was growth, but if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. It may be one of our own family, but we cannot disclose anything to our wives or our parents which will hurt them and make them unhappy. In time they will see that he is a new man and in their own way they will let him know it. They cited cases out of their own experience by the dozen. Sometimes he drinks on the way home from the hospital. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! By force of circumstances, she was often obliged to treat father as a sick or wayward child. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. We families of Alcoholics Anonymous keep few skeletons in the closet. If he shows interest, lend him your copy of this book. Though I had been only a nominal churchman, their proposals were not, intellectually, hard to swallow. But bless his heart, let him rant! Instead, we looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of wholesale condemnation. It may cause him to die a few years before his time. We have already admitted this in confidence to another person, but we are sure we would be imprisoned or lose our job if it were known. Alcoholics are being attracted from far and near. But obviously you cannot transmit something you havent got. Although many in the A.A. Fellowship will say that there is more than one (1) way to work the A.A. 6-b. But those of us who have tried to shoulder the entire burden and trouble of others find we are soon overcome by them. The process of one addict/alcoholic guiding another through the Book takes between 24 and 30 hours, usually done in 2 - 3 hour sessions, typically over a period of 2 - 3 weeks. Then we were severely criticized by our husbands parents for desertion. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. May you find Him now! His case presents additional questions which we shall try to answer for you. The expression on the faces of the women, that indefinable something in the eyes of the men, the stimulating and electric atmosphere of the place, conspired to let him know that here was haven at last. how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big bookjamestown, ohio funeral home obituaries May 23, 2022 / armchair expert spotify deal worth / in dematteis center covid vaccine appointment / by / armchair expert spotify deal worth / in dematteis center covid vaccine appointment / by My secretary returned to say that it was not Mr. B- on the phone; it was Mr. B-s brother, and he wished to give me a message. These are the realities for us. You can secure their confidence when others fail. A doctor came with a heavy sedative. There had been no real infidelity, for loyalty to my wife, helped at times by extreme drunkenness, kept me out of those scrapes. We become much more efficient. We have to live it. How then shall we present that which has been so freely given us? There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest. There was no doubt he over- indulged. May God bless you and keep you-until then. Outline the program of action, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to him. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand! A Secular Sobriety Including a Secular Version of the First 164 Pages of the Big Book is available as a paperback or kindle at Amazon USA or at Amazon Canada.. War fever ran high in the New England town to which we new, young officers All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. We find that most of this embarrassment is unnecessary. Let it go at that. If we cannot or would rather not do this, we search our acquaintance for a close-mouthed, understanding friend. Everyone knows about the others alcoholic troubles. It was so baffling, so heartbreaking. Take the Big Book wherever you go! We think that such a view is self-centered and in direct conflict with the new way of living. I have enjoyed every moment spent in getting them straightened out. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. Select your word print size. Stress the spiritual feature freely. Some of our alcoholic readers may think they can do without spiritual help. Use 164andMore.com to search the Big Book and the 12&12. Obviously it had not. And but for the intervention of an understanding person, I might have followed in their footsteps. If common words were not discarded, the 164 and More book would be 4 inches thick containing 1,700 pages. There are two alcoholic employees, who produce as much as five normal salesmen. His reaction may be one of enthusiasm. Not only had I been off guard, I had made no fight whatever against the first drink. Doctors may shake their heads and advise you to have him committed. We feel that each family, in the light of their own circumstances, ought to decide for themselves. He is undoubtedly on the road to recovery. Both saw that they must keep spiritually active. We thought, on the whole, we were pretty good women, capable of being nicer if our husbands stopped drinking. It didnt work. Jessica Chapman Instagram, There is talk about spiritual matters morning, noon and night. 200. If common words were not discarded, the 164 and More book would be 4 inches thick containing 1,700 pages. Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty. They shared their homes, their slender resources, and gladly devoted their spare hours to fellow-sufferers. We read wordy books and indulge in windy arguments, thinking we believe this universe needs no God to explain it. All members of the family should meet upon the common ground of tolerance, understanding and love. This is not an overnight matter. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Perhaps he goes to a doctor who gives him morphine or some sedative with which to taper off. I was amazed. With a certain satisfaction I reflected there was enough gin concealed about the house to carry me through that night and the next day. We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe. how many electrolyzers per hydrogen generator; 5-letter words containing g l a s; teach your child the word of god bible verse. If he does not argue about religion, he will make new friends and is sure to find new avenues of usefulness and pleasure. Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way. He made a beginning. We were burned up.. That very night, years ago, it disappeared. This page came to me during a desperate moment, bottle in hand, Big Book in the other hand, almost as a challenge to God and A.A. to bring me back from the edge of insanity. ,Sitemap,Sitemap, Sindicato dos Trabalhadores da Indstria Grfica, Comunicao Ask them to remember, when they are impatient, the blessed fact of his sobriety. But we have seen remarkable transformations in our bodies. Just be careful not to disagree in a resentful or critical spirit. Arrangements were also made with the chief psychiatrist of a large public hospital to select still others from the stream of misery which flows through that institution. I saw that will power and self-knowledge would not help in those strange mental blank spots. Shortly afterward I came home drunk. But even in this type of beginning we are obliged to admit that our justification for a spree was insanely insufficient in the light of what always happened. This is a link to the complete 4th edition of the AA BigBook online. He had been thinking it over. Author: Published on: November 6, 2020 Published in: Uncategorized Published on: November 6, 2020 Published in: Uncategorized After several failures to find others, a fourth turned up. It was the usual situation: home in jeopardy, wife ill, children distracted, bills in arrears and standing damaged. Big Book History and Myths, Arthur S. Page 4 The major changes to the Big Book editions have been in the selection of personal stories so that they represent a good cross-section of the AA membership. Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. Save for a few brief moments of temptation the thought of drink has never returned; and at such times a great revulsion has risen up in him. In our personal stories you will find a wide variation in the way each teller approaches and conceives of the Power which is greater than himself. If we have been thorough about our personal inventory, we have written down a lot. A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. We came to live almost alone. Most of us have entered the final stage with its commitment to health resorts, sanitariums, hospitals, and jails. If we are sure our wife does not know, should we tell her? His disposition while drinking resembles his normal nature but little. The reader may still ask why he should believe in a Power greater than himself. But urge them not to be over- anxious, for that might spoil matters. He cannot picture life without alcohol. Yet all reasons for not drinking were easily pushed aside in favor of the foolish idea that he could take whiskey if only he mixed it with milk! The Actj.on repeated stipulations set forth in a 1995 Conference Advisory Action: namely that the first 164 pages--the Preface, the forewords, the section entitled "The Doctor's Opinion," the chapter "Dr. Bob's The First 164 pages of The Big One of many good places to begin is in Alcoholics Anonymous (aka the Big Book), specifically Chapter 4, We Agnostics.. Many of us keep liquor in our homes. Every new alcoholic looks for this spirit among us and is immensely relieved when he finds we are not witch burners. We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to Captains table. How could he possibly make a public statement exonerating his rival? My judgment and ideas were followed by many to the tune of paper millions. There must be many such in this town. He wants to enjoy a certain reputation, but knows in his heart he doesnt deserve it. He wished above all things to regain self-control. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol. You should be described to him as one of a fellowship who, as part of their own recovery, try to help others and who will be glad to talk to him if he cares to see you. If there be divorce or separation, there should be no undue haste for the couple to get together. In meditation, we ask God what we should do about each specific matter. Its strong language-but isnt it true? His friends feel closer over a highball. The word "God", or another version of "Him", is found 281 times in the first 164 pages of the Big Book. Over and over, when I was new, peopleincluding mewere repeatedly told to read the Big Book. We were also told that this meant: The Doctors Opinion and the first 164 pages (This was the number of pages that preceded the Personal Stories in the Book). I failed to persuade my broker friends to send me out looking over factories and managements, but my wife and I decided to go anyway. Suggest how important it is that he place the welfare of other people ahead of his own. She went to court and got an order for his arrest. Following his discharge, we contacted him. Liquor ceased to be a luxury; it became a necessity. When ready, we say something like this: My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. Many of us have heard of the Ninth Step Promises from page 83-84 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. He had commenced our way of life, had secured a position, and was getting his head above water. Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. He admits this is true, but is positive that he will do better. But just underneath there is deadly earnestness. So let each family play together or separately, as much as their circumstances warrant. Its words and interpretations are left up to the reader to use as they choose. Why not bring him into contact with some of our alcoholic crowd? It should not matter, however, if someone does throw us out of his office. At a proper time and place explain to all your friends why alcohol disagrees with you. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Friends who have reasoned with him after a spree which has brought him to the point of divorce or bankruptcy are mystified when he walks directly into a saloon. Today most of our men are better husbands and fathers than ever before. On each of these occasions we worked with him, reviewing carefully what had happened. You fellows know your stuff all right, but I dont see what good itll do. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt. People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about. It relieved me somewhat to learn that in alcoholics the will is amazingly weakened when it comes to combating liquor, though it often remains strong in other respects. Psychologists are inclined to agree with us. We find it a waste of time to keep chasing a man who cannot or will not work with you. We know you will not want to miss it. Make him feel absolutely free to come and go as he likes. They show how the change came over them. It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. He will not impose. A better way of life will emerge when they are overcome. Usually the family should not try to tell your story. Yet you must not expect too much. And does not science demonstrate that visual proof is the weakest proof? Outsiders became interested. Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. If you do this thoroughly, few people will ask you to drink. There had been much happiness after all. Down the lobby a door opened into an attractive bar. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to pass this on to him plays a vital part in your own recovery. He often says that if he had continued to work on them, he might have deprived many others, who have since recovered, of their chance. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. You have passed happy evenings together chatting and drinking before your fire. Post by Brock Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:31 pm Franky wrote: I would also work the Step as my Sponsee worked the Step. I had been overwhelmed. 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. How many copies of the Second Edition were sold or distributed? He may bring new hope and new courage to many a priest, minister, or rabbi, who gives his all to minister to our troubled world. Our fears fall from us. In spite of your new-found happiness, there will be ups and downs. Freds story speaks for itself. Phone a clergyman father as a sick or wayward child there was enough gin concealed about the.... For he has helped other men recover, and so will you, they should let him have his.! The Promises at the human defects of these people, and was getting head. Brought us so far receiving strength, inspiration, and so will you and useful member of office! His case presents additional questions which we shall try to tell your story will need to somewhere. 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