The joy of sharing

AS Step Five says, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Now this was a scary Step at first. Having finally examined and understood all my negative behaviours and actions, I felt much better about myself and more aware of - and thus able to deal with - my shortcomings. But the idea of sharing all these flaws with someone else, opening up about all the terrible things I had done? No way! How on earth could I? My old arrogance and ego started to creep back in. I didn’t want my new AA friends to think less of me or even ostracise me.

However, these fearful thoughts lasted only moments, chased away by the realisation of the trust and love I had already experienced in the Rooms. My sponsor, the person I did this Step with, helped me to remember that I wouldn’t be judged or mocked in the Rooms for what I share - something I knew already but my old fearful paranoid head needed a little more reassurance. I soon came to realise that far from being ostracised, my admission of my faults and defects and the work I had done to try and understand and combat them, would only make me stronger and a closer member of the community.

I am so grateful that I have found this wonderful community of friends to share my woes with and steer me through the rougher waters and I am honoured to be able to share my own experience, strength and hope with others. I need to keep on giving back what I have been so graciously given. The more I share with others, the better I myself feel. The honesty and trust I have found in these Rooms truly is something magical and I consider it not just service but a privilege to be able to show the same honesty and trust to others in the Fellowship. Thank you for keeping me sober.

ROBBIE, Northampton.