The Slogans

The Slogans Are Quick References Guides to Sanity

I have a fond history with the slogans—you might say that they have saved my life. In early AA recovery, my home group was “old school,” no sharing in meetings until you had 1 year of sobriety. (We could ask questions.)

By |2025-09-18T13:57:07-05:00August 1, 2022|Comments Off on The Slogans Are Quick References Guides to Sanity

Believe the Lies or Adopt the Slogans

Can I differentiate the true from the false? In my disease, I never thought about that question prior to recovery. It simply did not matter. I am a pleasure seeker. What makes me happy or comfortable was what was important. In recovery, I have the opportunity to examine my beliefs and ask the God of my understanding to help me see the truth.

By |2025-09-22T01:31:56-05:00May 20, 2021|Comments Off on Believe the Lies or Adopt the Slogans

Program Slogans Helped Me Through My Translation Struggles

I got involved with the service of translating the literature into Italian over the past few years. This has mostly involved translations of the White Book, Step Into Action, and some program pamphlets. I’ve been one link in that chain: another fellow did the translation, while I revised the translated material, as required by the process we follow in SA in order to translate and then approve the work.

By |2025-09-22T04:50:19-05:00August 7, 2020|Comments Off on Program Slogans Helped Me Through My Translation Struggles

Letting Go and Letting God

Recently I was preparing to go away on a wonderful trip to Italy: first a week by the sea on my own, and then a week in the Roman hills with friends to attend an art workshop. This was to be a dream holiday, but I was feeling overwhelmed with fear: fear of my own intentions, fear of acting out, and mostly fear of having to feel my emotions with no other people to buffer them or fill the void.

By |2024-09-19T11:51:23-05:00September 17, 2011|Comments Off on Letting Go and Letting God

Three Slogans

Acceptance is a big part of my program today. Acceptance keeps me out of expectations (premeditated resentments), resentments, and revisited resentments. I can take “hits” off of any of these, and these hits can lead me directly to lust. One thing that helps me a great deal is using three simple slogans.

By |2024-09-19T11:51:44-05:00June 28, 2009|Comments Off on Three Slogans

One Day at a Time (ODAAT)

I have often heard old-timers say, “One day at a time.” At first I didn’t understand. I was struggling so hard to string together even a few days of sobriety. I thought that when I reached 30 days, I had arrived. I just didn’t understand what it meant to have sobriety, just for today.

By |2024-09-19T11:53:43-05:00September 30, 2008|Comments Off on One Day at a Time (ODAAT)

God Is My Pilot

Recently I became acquainted with a new sponsee. I realized early on that he had serious problems: unfaithfulness to his spouse, involvement with prostitutes, and other faults which I too had experienced before entering recovery and working the Steps.

By |2024-09-19T11:39:42-05:00December 19, 2005|Comments Off on God Is My Pilot

Easy Does It, Even on the Porch

I was sitting on my front porch yesterday, enjoying the beauty of God’s world around me. There are lots of trees, birds, squirrels, and even an occasional deer to help me focus on the serenity of nature.

By |2024-09-19T11:39:15-05:00December 18, 2005|Comments Off on Easy Does It, Even on the Porch