"WHAT IS SOBRIETY"

When someone comes to the rooms what is it that they are looking for? We would presume they want sobriety, most anyway. They say things like "I liked what you shared" or "I want what you have". My typical reply to that one is "How do you know what I have? I may have a rash."

The conversation that ensues may often times sound like this;

Newcomer: "You know what I mean. I want this"

Me: "Want what?"

Newcomer: "You know, I want it".

Me: "It, what is it?"

Newcomer: "Sobriety. I want sobriety".

Me: "Oh, and what is sobriety to you?"

At this point the befuddled look comes over them as they search the data in their brain to explain "SOBRIETY".

Newcomer: "Well I'm not really sure?"

Me: "Then how can you be so positive that you want what you are not even sure what it is that you want?"

My point being that each person should be able to define what it is they are searching for. I ask them to define sobriety and share with them what my definition of that is. They are welcome to use mine or whatever they come up with is fine. My definition is; Sobriety is an alcohol and drug free state of being characterized by freedom and happiness. Years ago old Tom B. taught me that and it was huge.

I now have a goal to work towards. At this point it would be helpful to note that people like us usually mix up two words; Action and Activity. To me action is a continuous purposeful movement always towards a goal, activity is not! Activity is the hamster on the wheel going nowhere fast swearing he's going somewhere.

Knowing this and having a goal (my definition of sobriety) at any given point I can stop what I am doing or thinking and ask myself is this a continuous purposeful movement towards my goal. If I answer that it is not then once again I am engaged in frantic activity. Going nowhere fast yet thinking I'm really doing something! So the first mistake is looking for sobriety yet having not a clue what that means.

Most people think that sobriety is just not drinking and drugging. Not drinking is the lowest form of sobriety. It's just the tip of the iceberg. If that was what this is all about there wouldn't be very many sober people.

Sobriety is about completely changing your life and practicing spiritual principles on a regular basis. It's about getting out of fantasy land and joining the real world. Becoming a member of society. Being a good citizen and a real member of your community.

The thing that stinks most about recovery is that the twelve steps are firmly planted in reality and we are not! By nature many of us are dreamers and fantasizer's. We build castles in the sky but recovery has its feet firmly planted in reality. We have the tendencies to preconceive things. Then when reality differs from our preconception it is easier for us to ignore reality then to change our preconception.

In AA meetings we talk about recovery but in the real world we practice it. We practice doing the right thing, being reliable, kind and caring to others. Truth is sobriety is living a grateful life. Humility and responsibility are our goals. Love and tolerance is our code. Sobriety is not just something we do it's something we live.

Some people are sober for years but they share about still fighting the drink. Is that sobriety attractive? Ten years sober and they pray each morning not to take a drink.

Page 17 in the Big Book 1st paragraph; "They have solved the drink problem."

If we have solved the drink problem why do I need to pray to stay away from a drink? That's like praying for a new car, getting a new car then in the morning pray for a new car again.

When you understand what sobriety is all about you won't waste time asking God for what he's already given to you.

"THE 36 LEGACIES"

There is much talk about "The Program". What most people are really talking about when using this term is the recovery part of our triangle as shown below. Most people think recovery and the program are one in the same, however, that is only partially correct. There are three parts to the program and recovery is just a third of it, yet we're not teaching others the whole program. In fact most people are unaware of the thirty six (36) legacies left to us.

They certainly know of the 12 Steps (the recovery part) and most people have heard of the 12 Traditions (the unity part) but few are aware of the 12 Concepts (the service part).

Unfortunately, most only have a slim understanding of The Traditions and that is after being around for a while. The great majority never look at The Concepts or even know they exist.

If we take a closer look we find that;
The Recovery part is the Steps
The Unity part is the Traditions
The Service part is the Concepts

The Recovery part is the Steps & Self
The Unity part is the Traditions & God
The Service part is the Concepts & Others
The Recovery part is the Steps & Self & to Learn
The Unity part is the Traditions & God & to Love
The Service part is the Concepts & Others & to Serve

The "Program" is about Steps, Traditions and Concepts. It is about God, Self & Others. It's about "to Learn, to Love and to Serve". This is a well-balanced program and is what our Founders left us to enjoy a good spiritual way of living. The second mistake is not understanding the 36 Legacies left to us.

I think it's important to understand how this mistake takes place so often. Our program tells us you cannot pass on something you haven't got. If you are sponsoring someone then it is your fault that you are not passing this on. You cannot expect a newcomer to know about things you don't know about. Too many of us come in, get sober and are fine with that. We are warned that if we rest on our laurels we're headed for trouble but that's exactly what we do. How many people with long term sobriety actually work all 12 steps on a regular basis?

"THREE PARTS OF RECOVERY"

The rest of this book will focus on the Recovery part of the program as we go through each of the Steps. The next point is knowing that the recovery portion is broken into three parts: What is the Problem, What is the Solution and What is the Program of Action.

On his third and last stay at Towns Hospital Bill W. (AA's cofounder) was giving a very important...