At one time or another most AA groups go on rule making benders...After a time fear and intolerance subside. [and we realize] We do not wish to deny anyone his chance to recover from alcoholism. We wish to be just as inclusive as we can, never exclusive.
AA Traditon: How It Developed pp 10,11,12
AA offered me complete freedom and accepted me into the fellowship for myself. Membership did not depend upon conformity, financial success or education and I am so grateful for that. I often ask myself if I extend the same equality to others or if I deny them the freedom to be different. Today I try to replace my fear and intoleance with faith, patience, love and acceptance. I can bring these strengths to my Aa group, my home and my office. I make an effort to bring my positive attitude everywhere that I go.
I have neither the right, nor the responsibility, to judge others. Depending on my attitude I can view newcomers to AA, family members and friends as menaces or as teachers. When I think of some of my past judgments, it is clear how my self-righteousness caused me spiritual harm.
This is something we as AA have to work on every day. If I start treating others with my old selfish and self centered, I would feel as though I may be "slipping" spiritually. I have a bunch of these spiritual slips daily, I have to remember these options to be selfish and self centered are for people who are NonAlcoholics. I as an experienced drunk know that these things others can do, will make me drunk. If I am trying to walk over someone's rights it means I am trying to run the show again. I can't force my rights on others or even try. I would get resentful and I know that restfulness can make me drunk. Resentment is a emotion that has all kinds of repercussions. Resentment means I have not completely given my day to the Higher Power of my understanding. It means I am going to revert back to being miserable with my sobriety, my day, my life. Being selfish and self centered seems to be one of the big enemies of the Alcoholic . I Could die from resentment, because resentment will get my mind to tricking me into a drink. I know I am one drink away form a drunk, looney bin, jail, death. I will not sleep for thinking about what is making me resentful, I will grind my teeth , over eat, look mad all the time, and just be sick! When I am resentful over a person, place or thing , that makes that person, place or thing my HIGHER POWER. If I dwell on the problem. That is what I am going to fill my heart and mind with. I have to live and let live! Now where did I here that before???
-- Edited by mrbillfrog at 13:12, 2005-05-28
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Susan Starr
Lost Starr 46 years
Bright Starr 10 years (5 months?) I have disabled my counting brain cells through alcohol. And a lot of other stuff LOL I am working with a handicap. 1/2 brain cell
