Having learned to live so happily, we’d show everyone else how. . . . Yes, we of A.A. did dream those dreams. How natural that was, since most alcoholics are bankrupt idealists. . . . So why shouldn’t we share our way of life with everyone? TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 156
The great discovery of sobriety led me to feel the need to spread the “good news” to the world around me. The grandiose thoughts of my drinking days returned. Later, I learned that concentrating on my own recovery was a full-time process. As I became a sober citizen in this world, I observed a rippling effect which, without any conscious effort on my part, reached any “related facility or outside enterprise,” without diverting me from my primary purpose of staying sober and helping other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
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This is confusing to me. I understand that I can’t make someone sober. I certainly have my problems with idealism, not to mention bankruptcy. But isn’t reaching out to people in need part of the plan? It says as much in the comnmentary on the quote, we should be “helping other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”
I see it’s a fine line, but still it seems that I should share this way of life as best I can.
The understanding that we are all connected, not just alcoholics, makes it a bit clearer. Actions, be they constructive or destructive have consequences. So without having to intellectually disect all that happens, I stay on track, focused, and not be concerned with the results.
AA seems to be that way also, the results of my actions are echoed back, as in a circle, so I try to put out through service what I, or others “may” get back.
Agreed, I think AA only appears to be evangalistic. If we go out with the intent of saving others we’ll find ourselves in trouble. No matter if my will appears to be well-intentioned, the attempt to impress it on others can hardly have better results than when I attempt applying my will to my life.
I guess my original comment was made in the hopes that people like you would add insights because the idea is so big. I was in a mtg just last week and someone had a fight with their using, adult child. He said he wished he could just do a brain-dump of his experience and acknowledge that the program doesn’t work that way. It was very inciteful.