Step Twelve
I’ve spent a lot of time in the recent months thinking about when I am truly happy and my heart consistently tells me, it is when I am right in the middle of AA and practising Step 12. Life can become overwhelming and busy, extra tasks crop up unexpectedly and I start to resent having to do them. But this never happens with an AA ‘task’.
I remember being told “You’ll never feel worse after an AA meeting, than when you walked in”, this also applies to service. I can feel overwhelmed at times with the things I need to do, or people I need to please and this can lead me to resent service commitments in AA but I never feel worse off for doing them. AA always knows what I need! There are many ways in which I can help carry the message to other alcoholics and that starts at my home group; opening the door each week and making the tea, speaking to the Twelve Steps calls and helping those reaching out to AA for the first time (or numerous times). It continues at intergroup, region and beyond – all of these are ways in which I can help the still-suffering alcoholic. I cannot deny the changes that came about me from following the Twelve Step Programme and working the Steps into my daily life.
The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous asks us ‘Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our AA group?’ Just how do we practice these principals in all our affairs? When I find non-AA things getting in the way of my serenity, or rather me letting them get in the way, I take a beat and consider how AA shows me how to deal with things. Think, think, think. I apply the Steps and normally need to check my ego and breathe.
I remember to trust in my Higher Power and just hand things over; I live in the moment more rather than the future (and especially not the past); I take a daily inventory and importantly admit when I am wrong and make amends to those who need it; I speak to my Higher Power and importantly I always reach out to the still-suffering alcoholic when asked.
There is no doubt that AA has changed my life for the better and as long as I follow the ‘instructions’ and keep doing what is suggested, it certainly should not get worse again!
Anonymous