R.L., of Rochester, New York, writes, “I drive 40 miles on Sunday afternoon to a small SA meeting in Clifton Springs. I was there today and was given the copy of ESSAY by another member who said there was an article about hate in it from R.S., of Marina del Rey, California. Thank God there is someone who was able to put into words how I feel. Hate has totally consumed my life ever since I can remember. I’m sober in AA 6½ years and it was such a struggle to attend because I would just take everybody’s inventory as they spoke and go home hating everyone. Intensely! At work I would come home totally exhausted from hating everyone all day. And I lost my last three jobs cause of it. I have had much trouble staying sexually sober in the last year and hated everyone even more cause I couldn’t do that. I tried every way I know how to stop hating, and it just got worse. And people just kept pushing my button with a simple, ‘Hello’ or ‘How ’ya doin’.’ Anything would set me off! People have asked me for years, ‘What are you so angry about?’ Psychiatrists, counselors, Fellow AAs. I never could answer them or if I did have an answer they would assure me that I shouldn’t be angry about it. Well, I don’t know if there is a reason or what. But I do know now that I’m powerless over hate. I give it to God and if He loves me enough to take that burden from me then I really do believe that He does know how many hairs are on our head. Thanking God every day for SA.…”