Slogans, Sayings And Acronyms

Audio Version 

If like me, you are inundated with profound and inspirational quotes on your social media platforms then perhaps you may identify with my comparisons between these and the similar positive and encouraging slogans, signs and acronyms of our amazing AA Fellowship. Hopefully, unlike me initially, you will recognise whilst our slogans are comforting and motivating, they require action to bring their substance into reality.

My original understanding of the purpose of the slogans was that they existed simply to make the meeting rooms look more attractive and positive. Indeed, I remember asking at one meeting if I could buy them at one of the major newsagents!

Fortunately, I had asked an ‘old timer’ who then explained these objects and sayings came from the experiences of the many who had set the path for us to follow. He changed my blinkered view that they were ‘moving’ and ‘poignant’ quotes into the belief these were the very foundations for growth and they required my active engagement. He told me when working with others I should try to explain their purpose and meaning and not just ‘parrot’ the slogan, sign or acronym.

I subsequently applied, and keep on applying, the first one he explained to me: ‘Keep it Simple’ which through experience and challenge I have come to believe underpins my life. I am the obstacle to the simplicity of this Programme. That is it. Full stop. I do not apply the acronym of KISS because it’s not stupidity that causes me problems, it’s usually lack of honesty, open- mindedness or willingness. There are far too many signs, slogans and acronyms to address in this one piece so picking out my favourites I will start with ‘Think, Think Think’. Think of what it was like, Think of what happened and Think of what it’s like now was the simple message I received.

‘Live and Let Live’. It was pointed out to me that this was one of the most used yet

hardest to follow slogans in the Fellowship. It’s easy to say but hard to follow as it translates to allowing people to be who they are. When I started to understand and tried to apply these sayings to my life it created a condition of ‘nosiness’ as I needed to find out how these statements were formed. I imagined all sorts of spiritual and wondrous beginnings for them when in fact the consensus is they were used and repeated so often they became embedded in our literature by default. So, no mystery or mystique surrounding our often life-changing slogans; just lasting evidence of the experience of others gathered from a source of life events.

I would however like to keep my absolute favourite until the end and that is ‘First Things First’ which for me is the most empowering and principled sign in AA. It alludes to the primary purpose we all have in recovery and that is to always remember that our primary purpose is sobriety. It has to be the be all and end all of our journey. To keep all the positive things I now have in my life requires I never forget, ‘First Things First’.

Martin B

Dunfermline Canmore Afternoon Thursday