The bad news is we're it !
A Vision For You
You are going to meet these new friends in your own community. Near you, alcoholics are dying helplessly like people in a sinking ship. If you live in a large place, there are hundreds. High and low, rich and poor, these are future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous. Among them you will make lifelong friends. You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey. Then you will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and rediscover life. You will learn the full meaning of "Love thy neighbor as thyself."
It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more. How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness? The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come. The age of miracles is till with us. Our own recovery proves that!
The 12 Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous (1) We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. (2) We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. (3) We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. (4) No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. (5) That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. (6) We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. (7) Self-seeking will slip away. (8) Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. (9) Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. (10) We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. (11) We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. (12) Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us—sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them. THE BEDEVILMENTS (page 52) THE PROMISES (page 83) We were having trouble with personal relationships. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. We couldn't control our emotional natures. We will comprehend the word serenity and we know peace. We were a prey to misery and depression. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. We couldn't make a living. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We had a feeling of uselessness. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We were full of fear. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We were unhappy. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We couldn't seem to be of real help to other people. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how your experience can benefit others. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. And, most of all, we doubted the power of God and did not know the basic solution. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
...If you have a recovery miracle you would like to share
please e-mail us at; miracles@aawebpage.com
