Happy New Year! The new millennium is now ten years old and the decade really flew by. The next decade looks promising in spite of the generalized economic woes. It seems as if we have dodged a collective bullet and as the old blues song says “been down so long it looks like up to me”. One thing for certain is that those of us living in a state of perpetual gratitude really understand the “down so long part” so that our lives on “the sunny side of the street” make all the worldly problems seem less painful. I often say that I am truly blessed to be able to be among the finest people in the world simply by spending an hour in a 12 step meeting.
The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous have become the foundation for more than one hundred twelve step based programs. The power unleashed within the practice of the twelve steps has freed millions of people from other serious and life threatening addictions. Bill Wilson and Doctor Bob Smith discovered the healing power that is received when two individuals with the same affliction share their experience strength and hope with each other. As more and more people join in this sharing, that power is magnified. That said, I will elaborate a bit on some ideas about the many anonymous programs.
Over the years I have watched many recovering alcoholics and drug addicts settle for less. By this I mean that when we put alcohol and drugs behind us our life becomes so good in comparison to our lives before recovery that we often neglect other issues. Many of us then fail to deal with one or several of the other life threatening addictions. It’s almost as if we say I gave up alcohol and drugs but don’t expect me to (1) quit smoking, (2) lose weight, (3) exercise more, (4) stop acting out sexually, (5) stop running up debt, (6) quit gambling (7) put down the caffeine and Red Bull. I know I have been guilty as charged on several of these things by thinking, as I did with my alcohol and drug addiction, that it wasn’t that bad or I would change the behaviors tomorrow. I was 19 years clean and sober before I finally quit smoking. I struggle with weight issues and a recent attempt to cut down on caffeine was half-hearted at best.
It wasn’t until I watched many of my old friends die in the last several years from the effects of tobacco, obesity and generally unhealthy lifestyles that it occurred to me to make some personal changes and to provide more material to my readers about other avenues toward physical and emotional growth through the other twelve step fellowships. I often joke at my latest 12 step discovery, Debtors Anonymous, that there are not enough days in the week for all the twelve step programs I qualify for or have attended over the years. As a matter of fact I have considered starting Meeting Makers Anonymous for people who go to too many 12 step meetings but since attending one of its meetings would only be contributing to the disease I changed my mind and started Mind Changers Anonymous.
Seriously though, it really makes no sense for me to continue unhealthy behaviors or addictions armed with my experiences in AA regarding the solution to alcoholism. If being over weight bothers me or smoking or getting all jumpy on coffee then this very “bother” is something that I didn’t get sober to feel. I can do something about it by applying the steps and tools that were so successful with my alcoholism to other issues. And the good news is, I can do this with others who are having trouble with the same issues. My experience in Debtors Anonymous over the last two years is a case in point.
So aside from being able to write down my thoughts and observations on this topic I am truly blessed to have the platform of this paper and my website solutionnews.org to not only share my experience but also to share a part of the solution. In this issue you will find articles on several twelve step programs that offer help and hope to millions of people suffering from a variety of addictions and behavioral problems. Included are website links and phone numbers for contacting them.We hope that at the start of this new year and new decade that you have the courage to explore the healing energy found in the twelve steps to remove any and all roadblocks to becoming truly happy, joyous and free.