The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Today is the 5 yr anniversary of the first time I drug myself to a recovery meeting. This meeting was at an AA/Al-Anon conference that my now ex-wife's sponsor asked my ex to suggest I attend. I will be leaving after lunch today to go to that very same conference (I have made it every year since that first one). I am excited and can't wait to get up there!
I was reading a book written by an "old timer" (who got sober in May, 1946) and came across the following "12 Steps of Pre-Program" and thought I would share them with you all to see if you can identify like I did with them.
In the words of Clint Eastwood from the movie "Unforgiven", I am so very, very grateful to Al-Anon and to all of you that "I ain't like that no more". Have a great weekend everyone!
12 Steps of Pre-Program
1. We admitted we were powerless over nothing - that we could manage our lives perfectly and those of anyone else who would allow us.
2. Came to believe there was no power greater than ourselves and the rest of the world was insane.
3. Made a decision to have our loved ones and friends turn their wills and lives over to our care even though they couldn't understand us at all.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral and immoral inventory of everyone we know.
5. Admitted to the whole world at large the exact nature of everyone else's wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to make others straighten up and do right.
7. Demanded others to either "shape up or ship-out".
8. Made a list of all persons who had harmed us and became willing to go to any lengths to get even with them all.
9. Got direct revenge on such people wherever possible, except when to do so would cost us our lives or at the very least, a jail sentence.
10. Continued to take the inventory of others and when they were wrong promptly and repeatedly made them aware of it.
11. Sought through bitching and nagging to improve our relations with others as we couldn't understand them at all, asking only that they knuckle under and do things our way.
12. Having had a complete physical, emotional and spiritual breakdown as a result of these steps, we tried to blame it on others and to get sympathy and pity in all our affairs.
.......hope you enjoyed these as much as I did. Yes, they are funny, but they have a lot of truth in them for the old David's way of life.
I am grateful that those steps, eventually led me to find the 12 Steps of Recovery which I am continuing to work and try to apply to my daily life.
Love ya!!!
David
-- Edited by david62 on Friday 17th of April 2009 07:45:13 AM
Absolutley BRILLIANT. I laughed out loud. Very funny and oh so true I completed everyone of those steps with distinction. Thanks for a great reminder of how not to live.
Thanks for posting this. I went to the family program at the facility where my husband was in treatment last week and these were outlined in a lecture. It was scary how right on some of them were...particularly the first 5 steps! Thank God for Alanon!!!
I enjoyed the reading the "Old 12 Steps" we used to practice. I miss them on occasion. That is the problem with this program. When you practice it, the program always kicks in. Dang-it.
HUGS, RLC
P.S. Enjoy your weekend!!!
-- Edited by RLC on Friday 17th of April 2009 12:56:42 PM
You are long gone by now; however I hope you have an amazing weekend. Conferences are truly spiritual awakenings each and every time we attend.
Happy Anniversary to you!!! How far you've come in lo these 5 years! I've had the pleasure of growing along side of you and your program is truly one of attraction!
love ya too, Maria
__________________
If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
I remember these steps!! I still know how to apply them to others lives when my program leash breaks. LOL have a great conference and if you check in here remember to give Kay and Judy some hugs. They are the reps from Alohaland. (((((hugs)))))
((((David))))) thanks so much for the post! i needed this!!! these funny but true ~reminders...rofl. want so much to be with you .. (with every~one) this weekend ~ i willbe there in heart and spirit & each time i think of yas this weekend (i will alot) it will make me smile. for that ... i love yas even more!
Have a great weekend everyone!
thanks so much 
for the post! 
i needed this!!! these funny but true ~reminders...rofl. 
& each time i think of yas this weekend (i will alot) it will make me smile. for that ... i love yas even more! 
enjoy 
