At once, I became a part — if only a tiny part — of a cosmos. . . .
As Bill Sees It, p. 225
When I first came to A.A., I decided that "they" were very
nice people — perhaps a little naive, a little too friendly, but basically
decent, earnest people (with whom I had nothing in common). I saw
"them" at meetings — after all, that was where "they" existed.
I shook hands with "them" and, when I went out the door, I forgot
about "them."
Then one day my Higher Power, whom I did not then believe in, arranged
to create a community project outside of A.A., but one which happened to
involve many A.A. members. We worked together, I got to know "them"
as people. I came to admire "them," even to like "them"
and, in spite of myself, to enjoy "them." "Their" practice
of the program in their daily lives — not just in talk at meetings — attracted
me and I wanted what they had. Suddenly the "they" became
"we." I have not had a drink since.
From the book Daily Reflections
© Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World
Services, Inc.
We, Me and Lea, go the 9:30 AM Reflections meeting at the Alano Club
every weekday and have done so for the last year. Usually there are between 12 and 20 people at
the meeting, making it slightly smaller than average. What does make it unique is that it is a
functional solution-based meeting primarily filled with newcomers and members
with less than a year of sobriety.
We had a great meeting this morning talking about it being a “we”
program. Erin has been going a little
while longer than me and Lea. Today,
she had new sponsees sitting to her left and right with another young sponsee
sitting across the room. A year ago,
Erin was lacking for sober friends.
Today she is a role model for woman in early sobriety wanting what she
has.
I pointed out all the “we”
statements in the 9th step promises:
If we are painstaking
about this phase of our development, we
will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to
shut the door on it. we will
comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self
pity will disappear. We will lose
interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will
slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people
and of economic insecurity will leave us. We
will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. we will suddenly realize that God is
doing for us what we could not do
for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us—sometimes quickly,
sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.
I am grateful to be a member of the “we” fellowship of AA. All of my life I felt alone, and never more
so as when I was surrounded by a crowd of people. TToday I am no longer alone thanks to god and the fellowship of AA.
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