It’s a good read – click here to go meet Roger. (This link was previously published on the Chicago Sun Times website – Roger passed away a few years ago and they’ve since removed the content. I found it elsewhere and posted this note at the new link above)
I had some thoughts on that post – I added them at Roger’s site, but thought I’d put them here too…
Hi Roger, what a great post. I’m Dan and, well, you know the rest…
I’ve been in the program for a couple of years now after drinking for thirty years. The one brief comment I’d like to add to the conversation is that it is the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous that has kept me sober these last few years. I am eternally grateful for meeting folks just like myself – even if we all come from different walks of life. The chef, the writer, the art director, the computer sales guy, the executive, the engineer, the cop, the fireman, the nurse, the doctor, the retired guy, the homeless guy, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, the priest. All of who are my friends from AA. I’d never have met most of these folks in my normal everyday life.
It’s amazing that a group with such diverse lives can come together for sixty or ninety minutes and offer each other the gift of having traveled the same path.
I’m not savvy enough to tell you how or why AA works – just that it worked for me. I quit drinking more times than I changed shirts – it never took. The fellowship gave me the gift of my life.
best,
dan
I’m gonna be a bit more diligent about coming back here and telling you more about what’s been happening in my life for the past two and a half years. I’ve worked Steps 1 through 7 pretty well and am now thinking about Step 8 and beyond. It helps if you do them in order (:D) – but you’ll see I danced around a bit. I think everybody can do 12 Step work, btw.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping me to not drink today.
dan