Editorial
This month’s theme is Steps Eight and Nine. When I went through the Steps I was quite clear about whom I had wronged and why. I made amends: in some cases only a letter was possible, but I am forever grateful that in the case of my mother I was able to make living amends and know that she was reassured, in her last years, to have a sober, responsible daughter after a lifetime of being anxious about a reckless alcoholic one.
But my experience has been that these Steps are not a one-off. Few of them are, it seems. Years into sobriety I thought of two colleagues I no longer saw or worked with. And, on reflection, my behaviour to them had been hurtful and unkind. More letters! But my experience has been that once you allow the Steps to get under your skin, as it were, it is hard to move forward knowing you’ve left damage by the roadside behind you.
Next month’s theme is Fear and, oh gosh, is that a big one for me. I look forward to reading other shares about this topic.
Thank you for supporting Roundabout.
Dilys, Editor
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0 The Twelve Steps
1 Preamble
2 The Twelve Traditions
3 Editorial
4 Step 8
6 Wordsearch
7 Vacancy for a Diary Editor
8 Thy Will Be Done
9 Roundabout Needs Your Articles
10 Serving as Diary Editor
12 Hope, Strength and Experience
14 Reflections from a Long-Time Sober Member
16 Conventions and Gatherings
ii Group Changes
17 The Roundabout Interview
20 Literature Extracts
24 Letter to the Editor
25 My Journey in AA
26 Wordsearch Answers
28 Owning Up and Making Up
31 Out and About with Roundabout
33 The Twelve Concepts