He learned to recognize true success by not focusing on the work needed to complete everything, but by appreciating the amount of work completed today.

He learned to recognize true success by not focusing on the work needed to complete everything, but by appreciating the amount of work completed today.

Exercising the principles of the program daily produces a wisdom that knowledge alone can never provide.

He discovered that continuing to take Steps Six and Seven, he became more willing to have God remove his defects.

He realized that by only praying for God’s will, God revealed his will and answered his past prayers for sobriety.

She remembers a historical event by reflecting on where she has been and where she is today as a result of this Program.

While caution is suggested to the newcomer in the beginning of the White Book, similar caution can be found in abundance on Step Nine throughout our literature.

Enthusiasm for recovery and a newfound willingness to be honest without careful consideration before sharing can lead to an awkward situation.

Wisdom has taught her that enthusiasm in early recovery did not always translate into appropriate sharing.

A Journal of 90 Meetings in 90 Days.
Luc D. traveled to Nashville in 2009 to attend 90 in-person meetings in 90 days in a desperate attempt to save his life after a relapse binge. He kept a journal during this time and shared it with other members. Below and in the following editions, ESSAY will be sharing parts of his journal.

The wives of these sex addicts spoke up to voice the damage that was done to them, but the complaints were not directed to the sexaholics.

Her experience has taught her that gossip in the Fellowship can be a harmful form of disclosure.

Instead of sharing everything to get it off his chest, he learned that if he hasn’t worked the Steps on something, then he doesn’t share it.

She realized that, following the guidance of our literature and of her sponsor, she adoivded experiencing the tragedy of a premature disclosure.

This member reflects on all the different aspects of the Program that helped him to never fully disclose to his loved one.
After 41 years of sobriety in recovery, I have still never fully disclosed my SA story to my wife. Even now, I ask myself how that could be.

The power of God sustained her during the nightmare of hearing a disclosure.

An unexpected moment of love helped his wife move from despair due to disclosure to hope for recovery.

In his article, “I Was at Peace”, this member shares how he approached disclosing to his wife. He took a number of recovery actions before having that conversation with her.

For most of his life, he lived in a prison built with shame, secrets, and addiction. Working the Steps with an accountability partner in prison and with the help of his sponsor by phone, he connected with God.

Dear ESSAY,
It wasn’t until I first entered recovery that I heard of rigorous honesty. No one knew the real me. None of my closest friends, none of the women that I had dated, not even my wife, knew about my addiction.