The February edition announced a new practical tool called “The Game.” After a successful pilot project in November with six teams of four members each, The Game was kicked off for the worldwide fellowship on April 4.

On that day, 130 members from all over the globe looking for fun and recovery formed 26 teams to play The Game in order to learn new habits over a period of 28 days. In order for it to be an effective way to make new program friends, the teams were put together randomly.

Like everything in our program, The Game is about team work. The teams work together to earn recovery points by using SA Tools. The team, not the individual, with the most recovery points at the end of the 28-day challenge wins.

Each tool has to be practiced for a minimum of 10 minutes per day.

Each member has had to choose his/her own four recovery tools which had to be the same for the 28 days:

1. A daily phone call to one’s check-in buddy of the week
2. An activity of self-care
3. A recovery action
4. A spiritual activity

All players reported to have had a heck of a time and lots of fun and fellowship while practicing their new habits. There was a lot of “healthy spiritual competition” between the teams, trying week after week to get the highest ranking. Each of the members of the winning team got the print version of this May edition for free.

Below you can read some of the anecdotes sent to us by the players.

The Game helped me to inventory something that happened 22 years ago. I shared the inventory with someone I trust. As much as I remember it was the first time that I cried about that loss.

I have been writing in my journal every single day—the events of the day, resentments, gratitudes. It was awesome. I had never done it daily. And I am sticking to it now day after day.

“Praying for others” was my spiritual action tool. First, I did it singing, which was fun. Then I started using this tool during the day as soon as I became aware of a resentment. It helped so much! Next, I started praying in silence while sitting in the sun, which made me feel so near to my HP and so pure and happy! I learned to pray in 10 minutes for all my inventory-people. I added praying for myself and the little girl in me. I added praying for all little girls. It helped me to get compassion for and connection with my inner child and other little girls.

I am glad to announce myself as the winner of The Game: I won new habits of recovery tools which gave me a new experience and growth in my spiritual journey. I won new fellow friends from around the world whom I can share with and get ESH from. I won the enjoyment of playing a safe game with fellows which was really fun. I won the lesson that Priority is not what I say it is, or I want it should be. It’s what I actually do!!

I was reminded that the program works one day at a time and I have seen how one day at a time adds up. I now have 28 more days of sobriety. In addition to my sobriety I have improved my mental, physical and spiritual health as a result of The Game. I’ve met and connected with people worldwide. I began to understand the importance of self-care.

The Game has motivated me to reach out when I normally wouldn’t, as well as to consider others’ needs over my own.

I started waking up earlier and earlier in order to meditate. Dawn is sooner each day!

By practicing the tools of recovery every day, I have become more responsible and disciplined. The words from the prayer-song that I have been singing every day have become my reality!

It was and is challenging for me to work on my 4th Step inventory on a daily basis, but the commitment to my team helped me to do so. I am looking forward to playing it again.

What I loved about The Game is that it gave me another reason to do the Steps. I want so badly to improve as a person, because if I don’t improve, I might go back out there. And for me, that would be “death.” I didn’t look at it as a competition, in the way that a boxer wants to “beat” his opponent. I did it to improve myself in the same way a musician might be motivated to improve. It helped me to get “better” at life, so that I can enjoy my “music” more, and be a better “instrument” to help others.

The Game has been a real blessing for me. Through it I have been granted a meditation discipline, I have been taking daily action on my steps 8 & 9 and not procrastinating. I have been in contact with new fellows—practicing honesty and thinking of others. I have been conscious of how I can care for myself by eating well and working out.

I finished a whole book thanks to The Game. It has been a long time since I’ve read a book of 214 pages!

Through my self-care tool I learned to stretch my stiff muscles in the evening, as I suffer from a meniscus injury. Thanks to it, I can sleep much more relaxed now!