Begin forwarded message:

> From: Frank Quinlan <cappyquinlan@...>
> Date: 17 October 2007 11:23:51 AM
> To: recoveredalcoholics@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
> Subject: Re: [Recovered Alcoholics] Off A recovery thought
>
> Thats a darn good way to go through the day Archie .I dont mean the
> joke but pages you refer to ,what are they 84 onwards to the end of
> the chapter .
>
> Good joke too ,I 'm going to use that .
>
> best
>
> Frank
> On 17/10/2007, at 11:15 AM, archie wrote:
>
>> One of the finest things about A.A. is the sharing, sharing is a
>> wonderful
>>
>> thing because the more we share the more we get.
>>
>>
>> Finally, an answer to the age-old question: How do you tell the
>> difference
>>
>> between a normal drinker, a social drinker, and an alcoholic? It
>> seems a
>>
>> behavioral scientist decided to solve the riddle, and his
>> knowledgeable
>>
>> friend--probably one of us--advised him to head for the local
>> watering hole
>>
>> for some firsthand research. So one night he and his friend planted
>>
>> themselves firmly at the bar and began a watching brief. Well, right
>> away, a
>>
>> guy came in and ordered a drink, then headed for the men's room.
>> While he
>>
>> was gone, the two researchers dropped a fly in his drink. When he
>> returned,
>>
>> he looked at the fly, frowned, and summoned the bartender. "There's
>> a fly in
>>
>> my drink--get me a fresh one." Now that," said the scientist's
>> friend, "is a
>>
>> normal drinker." The next fellow came in and the two played the same
>> trick.
>>
>> When he returned, he immediately plucked the fly out of the drink and
>>
>> drained the glass to the bottom. "That's a problem drinker," was the
>>
>> analysis. The third drinker walked in, ordered a drink, left it on
>> the bar,
>>
>> and returned a few moments later. When he saw the fly he picked it
>> up,
>>
>> turned it upside down, shook it, and shouted: "Spit it out! Spit it
>> out!"
>>
>> "And that," said our expert, "is an alcoholic."
>>
>>
>> GROWTH STEPS
>>
>>
>> Congratulations! You are now ready to rocket into a fourth dimension
>> of
>>
>> existence of which we have not ever dreamed. By living the essence
>> of Steps
>>
>> 10, 11, and 12, we are bound to maintain our sobriety and to grow
>>
>> spirituality. The promises on pages 84-85 establish that the problem
>>
>> (obsession) will be removed and the promises on page 88 reveal how
>> we will
>>
>> grow emotionally and spiritually from what we are, to what God would
>> have us
>>
>> be. Remember; all you have to do is: clean house, trust God, help
>> others.
>>
>>
>> STEP 10
>>
>>
>> Part
>>
>>
>> We learned how to do this in Step #
>>
>>
>> one
>>
>> Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear
>>
>> 4
>>
>>
>> two
>>
>> When these crop up, we ask God, at once, to remove them
>>
>> 6 and 7
>>
>>
>> three
>>
>> We discuss them with someone immediately
>>
>> 5
>>
>>
>> four
>>
>> And make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.
>>
>> 8 and 9
>>
>>
>> five
>>
>> Then we resolutely turn out thoughts to someone we can help
>>
>>
>> STEP 11
>>
>>
>> At night
>>
>> We constructively review our day; were we resentful, selfish,
>> dishonest
>>
>> or afraid? We ask forgiveness and inquire what constructive measures
>> should
>>
>> be taken
>>
>>
>> In the morning
>>
>> We consider our plans for the day. Ask God for inspiration, an
>>
>> intuitive thought or a decision. Take a period of meditation. Ask for
>>
>> freedom from self-will.
>>
>>
>> Through the day
>>
>> Ask for the right thought or action. Say to ourselves many times each
>>
>> day; Thy will be done
>>
>>
>> STEP 12
>>
>>
>> Working with new alcoholics, whether wet or dry, brings us very much
>> in
>>
>> touch with Step 1 (powerlessness) and Step 2 (the Power which is
>> keeping us
>>
>> sober. This action keeps us convinced that we cannot rely on our own
>>
>> knowledge or will power-that we must stay spiritually fit and not
>> rest on
>>
>> our laurels.
>>
>>
>> It is important that we understand and practice the directions in
>>
>> chapter 7. We may then begin to build a fellowship around us.
>>
>>
>> Step 12 asks us to carry this message--not our message, some message
>> or
>>
>> something else we thought of, but this one. The one in the Big Book!
>>
>>
>> A.S.A.P.
>>
>> Always Say A Prayer
>>
>>
>>
>>