Practical Tools

Phone Meetings Really Work!

Recently, when our SA regional representative joined one of my regular face-to-face meetings, I shared how important my morning sobriety renewal phone meeting calls have been for my recovery.

By |2024-08-02T11:55:50-05:00June 28, 2009|Comments Off on Phone Meetings Really Work!

Letter to a Sponsee

I don’t know why you’re not able to stay sober, but I don’t think it’s the incapacity to be honest. Agonizing over that is like agonizing over grieving the Spirit—it happens to very few people.

By |2024-08-05T14:32:20-05:00September 30, 2008|Comments Off on Letter to a Sponsee

Sponsorship in SA

For me, honesty is the basis of a sponsorship relationship. I’m honest with my sponsor right away if a behavior is becoming a problem. I’m honest with her about what situations I must avoid. I also know what I am able to handle without problems.

By |2024-09-09T15:29:01-05:00March 1, 2008|Comments Off on Sponsorship in SA

None of Us is as Smart as All of Us: The Power of Meetings

I’m battling a disease that is much greater than I am, and which needs no rest. My disease is focused on driving a wedge between me and everything I hold dear. It is intent on killing me. It knows that by isolating me it can make me believe its lies—but as long as I have others to talk with, I can keep my addiction at bay.

By |2024-08-05T14:38:08-05:00March 1, 2008|Comments Off on None of Us is as Smart as All of Us: The Power of Meetings

Tenth Step Dailies

One recovery tool that I’ve used for many years is what we used to call “the Dailies.” Years ago, it would involve a phone call, sharing with each other our Gratitudes, Fears, Things to Practice, and Things to Avoid. With the advent of e-mail, I started sending mine to one or two partners first thing in the morning, and I would look for their answers, generally before work.

By |2024-08-12T17:47:12-05:00June 11, 2007|Comments Off on Tenth Step Dailies

Stepping Back

This sponsor/friend thing has been emotional for both of us. I have so much life stuff going on that I haven’t been dealing with my feelings around our relationship. Part of me doesn’t know how. I’ve never been in this situation before. To be a sponsor is one thing, it’s more cut and dried. A friend is another thing completely; it takes the “conditions” out.

By |2024-09-09T15:40:35-05:00June 11, 2007|Comments Off on Stepping Back

What is Sponsorship?

In Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. and Dr. Bob speak of their need to seek out other alcoholics or they could not stay sober. This need was not based on a desire to fix other drunks, but rather to share with others their truths regarding alcohol in their lives, and their need for a relationship with God, the One who could help them live without alcohol.

By |2024-08-12T17:45:09-05:00June 11, 2007|Comments Off on What is Sponsorship?

Daily Gratitude

My cell phone alarm alerts me daily at 12:12 noontime so that wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I can stop and thank God (my Higher Power) for the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions and for the gift of sobriety.

By |2024-08-26T14:54:17-05:00March 25, 2007|Comments Off on Daily Gratitude

Spotlight on Sponsorship

My sobriety date is January 1, 1991. The longer I am sober, the more I need a meeting because I am close to a relapse. Why, you may ask? Well, there are a lot of new people, but not a lot of people with long-term recovery. That tells me that I am closer than ever to relapse. What I have been doing has been working for me, so I keep doing it.

By |2025-05-12T12:24:20-05:00December 11, 2006|Comments Off on Spotlight on Sponsorship