FEB 25, 19 .. STEP TWO ..

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5, How It Works, page 59, states :

Step 2 .. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

As I have mentioned from time-to-time, my original sponsor, Bill B from Los Angeles, also addicted to drugs, had a sponsor. This would make Bill's sponsor my 'Grand Sponsor'.

Bill's sponsor was Clarence Henry Snyder from Cleveland, Ohio, who's story, the Home Brewmeister, was in the second and third additions of our AA Big Book.

Clarence got sober in March of 1938, upstairs in Doctor Bob's home, beside the bed, on his knees, asking God for help and praying.

I point this out for this simple reason : In March of 1938, the AA Big Book had not yet been written, let alone published and distributed to the early AA members.

So from Bill B and Clarence I received a somewhat different message about the steps and the recovery process.

I was taught to say Step 2 thusly : Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us from the insanity of the first drink.

To this day, to this moment, I prefer this version (being restored from the insanity of the first drink) of the second step than as published in the Big Book.

Last month, writing about Step 1, I talked about being in a High School Latin class and my not knowing that I could not read the words on the blackboard because of being near-sighted.

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2018/01/jan-30-18-january-step-one.html

Suddenly, realizing that I had a problem and could not read the writing on the blackboard, could I solve that issue myself? No I could not.

This is all that Step 2 is! Realizing (in Step 1) that I had a problem that I could NOT (Step 2) solve myself. I needed to see an optometrist and get fitted for eye glasses! In AA we need to find God and get some help with our alcoholism.

Simple huh? We are making far too much out of the steps. 

I have a problem (Step 1) and I need help (Step 2) to solve my problem.

DEC 25, 18 .. STEP TWELVE

Here we are, it's December, the 12th month of the year, and time to share some of my experience with Step 12.

Step 12 : Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry our message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Do any of you want Step 12 expressed in only five (5) words?

TO FEEL GOOD, DO GOOD

When we help others, it makes us feel good. When we feel good about ourselves, we are not inclined to pick up a drink of alcohol to change how we feel.

TO FEEL GOOD, DO GOOD

This includes doing good things for all other human beings. It is not limited to only helping other alcoholics. Let it also include doing good things for animals and even inanimate objects as well.

To repeat : When we help others, it makes us feel good. When we feel good about ourselves, we are not inclined to pick up a drink of alcohol to change how we feel.

THE PROMISES

Most of us are aware of 'The Promises' of the 9th step which are on pages 83 and 84 in The Big Book in Chapter 6, - Into Action.

There are about 140 promises in the first 164 pages of the Big Book.

Step 12 begins with a promise : Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps.

This is a promise. We are promised a Spiritual Awakening if we work the previous 11 steps.

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING / EXPERIENCE

The 12th Step promises us a spiritual awakening. Appendix II, pages 567 and 568, in the back of the Big Book is well worth studying. 

In my thoughts on Step 9, I talked about how some amends are uncomfortable and of the spiritual experience I had the day I stopped short of telling-off another member of A.A. so I would not have to then make an amend to him. This change in behavior is, in and of itself, a spiritual awakening or experience.

WORKING WITH OTHERS

In The Big Book, Chapter 7 - Working With Others, on page 89 says : PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.

In my opinion, working with others ranks number 2 on my list of most important actions we can take to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. 

What is number 1? In order to recover from active alcoholism you must want to do so. A.A. is not for those who need it. A.A. is for those who want it!

What more have I to offer on the 12 Step? For now this is my best effort.

NOV 24, 18 .. I AM NOW IN IRKUTSK, RUSSIAN SIBERIA

Hello One And All in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

My stay in Ulaanbaatar was very short, only six days dating from the 23rd of October when I flew into Ulaanbaatar from Seoul, South Korea, until the 29th of October when I flew from Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk, Russian Siberia.

I am now 'carrying the message' here in Irkutsk.

I hope to return again to Ulaanbaatar next Spring of 2019.

Until then ..

Best Wishes from Kanbaatar ..

OCT 4, 18 .. SOON I WILL RETURN TO MONGOLIA ..

Soon I will return to Mongolia.

October 16th, I will fly from Anchorage, Alaska, to Seattle, Washington, on the West Coast of the United States.

On October 17th I will fly from Seattle, Washington, to Seoul, South Korea, arriving October the 18th. In Seoul I will visit friends and attend meetings.

Then on October 23rd I will fly from Seoul, South Korea, to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

I look forward to seeing all of my friends in Ulaanbaatar.

Smiles, Kanbaatar

JAN 30, 18 .. STEP ONE

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5, How It Works, page 59, states :

Step 1 .. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

I wonder how many members fully realize that there are two steps that come before we get to the above Step 1?

On page 58, prior to the steps that appear on pages 59 and 60 are the following words.

If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go  to any length to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps.

One has to want this program. Further one has to be willing to go to any length to get it. 

So IF you want this program and are willing to go to any length to get it THEN you are ready to take the suggested twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

What exactly is step 1.

Allow me to share a true story with you.

In 1950, I was sitting in a High School latin language class. Little did I know on that long ago school morning, that my life was about to change forever. 

Sitting next to me on my left was a fellow student who was wearing eye glasses.  Fooling around, as I tended to do in class, I reached over across his face with my right hand and I took off his eye glasses and put them on.

Oh My Gosh! I Can See The Blackboard! Oh My Gosh! I Can See The Leaves On The Trees Outside The Window!

You see? I did not know that I could not see normally. I did not know that I had a problem. If one does not know that one has a problem, there can not possibly be a solution to the problem.

This is what Step 1 is. Step 1 is the simple admission that one has a problem with alcohol.

This should be a simple yes or no. Yes I have a problem. No I do not have a problem.

Next month I will write about my thoughts on Step 2. 

JAN 27, 17 .. PHOTOS OF AA HISTORICAL PLACES ..

Just in case any of you visiting this website are interested in seeing some photos of various AA Historical Places such as Doctor Bob's Home in Akron Ohio, Bill Wilson's birthplace in East Dorset Vermont, and other AA items of interest, please click onto the below link and go to the below website ..

AA HISTORICAL SITES / MEETINGS

aaphotoshere.blogspot.com

In service to all!

OCT 14, 15 ..STEP 12.. АРВАНХОЁРДУГААР АЛХАМ

АРВАН ХОЁРДУГААР АЛХАМ - STEP 12

“Эдгээр алхамыг дагаж мөрдсөний үр дүнд бид оюун санааны ариусал олж авсан бөгөөд энэхүү хөтөлбөрийнхөө утга учрыг бусад архаг архичдад түгээхийн зэрэгцээ эдгээр зарчмуудаа өдөр тутмын ахуй амьдралдаа хэрэгжүүлэхийг хичээдэг.”

ТАЙЛБАР: хуудас 100

Бусад архичидтай эрчимтэй ажиллахаас илүү архи уухгүй байх баталгаатай дархлал байхгүй гэдгийг амьдралын туршлага харуулж байна. Өөр бусад үйл ажиллагаа үр дүнгээ өгөхгүй байхад энэ нь үр дүнд хүрдэг. Энэ тухай бусад архичин хүмүүст хэлж дуулгагтун. Энэ бол бидний арван хоёр дахь санал юм. Өөр хэн ч чадахгүй байхад та тусалж чадна. Бусад хүмүүс чадахгүй байхад та тэдэнд итгэл үнэмшил төрүүлж чадна.  Тэд бол хүнд өвчтэй хүмүүс гэдгийг санаарай.

Амьдрал шинэ утга агуулгатай болно. Хүмүүсийг эдгэрч эрүүл болохыг харах, тэднийг бусдад туслахыг үзэх, ганцаардлаас гарахыг харах, таны хүрээлэл өргөжин тэлэхийг үзэх, олон найз нөхөдтэй болох энэ бүх боломжийг та алдах ёсгүй. Та энэ бүхнийг алдахыг хүсэхгүй гэдгийг бид мэдэж байна. Шинээр ирэгсэд болон бие биентэйгээ байнга харилцаатай байх нь бидний амьдралын хамгийн сайхан үе юм.

Арванхоёрдугаар алхамын асуулт:

Та бусад архичин хүмүүст энэхүү мессежийг түгээж, оюун санааны хөтөлбөрийн зарчмуудыг өөрийн бүх ажил үйлсдээ хэрэгжүүлдэг үү?

More to follow one-day-at-a-time.

Илүүг мэдье гэвэл нэг өдөрт-нэг удаа