(week 153) Dec 4 2014 12 Step Study Big Book All Addictions Workshop

Stephanie has two groups both on the same number: 712 432 8816 pin no. 32450#

They have the same callback number 641 715-3900 – but different pin numbers:

(1) Tuesday 8am EST Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers pin no. 298913#

(2) Thursday 8am EST 12 Step Study (All Addictions) Big Book Workshop pin no. 95666#

Open Study Buddy Groups 712 432 0800 pin no. 587213#

Thursdays EST 9.30am Sundays EST 11-12am

Please send donations to support the website to:

Stephanie Whiting

P O Box 531

North Pembroke MA 02358

AA 12 x 12 Tradition 3 Page 141 First line: ‘What is credible that AA was to have a divorce rate….:’ until end ‘…any alcoholic is a member of our Society when he says so.’

At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic’s full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery. Who dared to be judge, jury, and executioner of his own sick brother?

Tradition Three:

“The only requirement for A.A. Membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

Next Thurs. Dec. 11, ’14 Beginning of Step Four writing

Dec. 25, ’14 Summary of Step Two

Jan. 1, ’15 Summary of Step Three

look up: piety

Q1a) Is your group a judge and jury?

b) Do you judge? Do you punish your sick brother/sister by not calling them?

“Why did A.A. finally drop all its membership regulations? Why did we leave it to each newcomer to decide himself whether he was an alcoholic and whether he should join us?”

Q2a) Does your group have membership regulations?

b) Ask yourself: Am I being put in a box by my groups?

c) Do I put other people in a box?

Q3a) Are you afraid of damaging your reputation?

b) Do you break your anonymity?

Q4. Considering all we have learnt about a) b) and c) on page 60 of the Big Book why is piety good?

Q5. Why is self-righteous piety damaging to ourselves and others?

Preparation for next week when we begin Step 4:

Write a list of the people whom you currently resent. Those you feel jealous of, angry at, who have hurt you emotionally, harmed you physically or spiritually. People you have written about before and yet you still have feelings. Something happened with this person and you now re-feel the feelings when you think of them and you have an icky feeling about them. (Resentment means you re-feel the feelings) Another way to describe it, is you are at a Christmas party and having a great time and this person walks in and you go “Uh. I don’t want this person here.â€

The person can be alive or dead and if you only think you have a resentment you do, so include them too.

And whether God gives you 16, 20, 100, or three or one. It doesn’t matter. You go to God and you write them down.

In Quiet Time take that list to the God of your understanding and ask to be shown who right when you are in Quiet Time is No. 1 that you really,really have a problem with right now today? And then the 2nd, 3rd, the 4th and 5th.

After you have got clear with the help of your Higher Power which are the five most pressing, bring them for next week.

[Later we will do institutions and then principles. Institutions is a group of people: e.g. a group dental practice, a hospital, the police department. People is one of those dentists in that group, or one policeman].

You are going to do your work in columns just like on page 65 of the Big Book.

You need a three-ring metal note book and paper.

Take the first name on the list and write across the top of the page:

(1) I am resentful at: (write the name) The cause: Affects my:

Take the second resentment and on new sheet of paper (even if it is the same person as no. 1) and write:

(2) I am resentful at: (write the name) The cause: Affects my:

and so on until you have done all five.

No other writing.

[Take-away ‘Stephanie Tips’ from today’s Workshop:

– When you have a troubled person in your life, make sure you put them on your gratitude list for teaching you patience and tolerance. Inventory yourself to see whether you, too, are guilty of what bothers you in the other person.

– do amends WITH God (‘I offer myself to you God, to be with you in partnership. So, please, help me to inventory myself…’)

– Unfortunately, it’s the human condition that people are afraid to continue hanging around someone who has lost his sobriety. But AA is built on helping our sick brother, not hurting him.

So don’t dump someone who has a slip- that’s like enacting a divorce; very painful. Rather,

encourage them/ teach them about Quiet Time and how to set Healthy Boundaries.

-Best for men to help men and women to help women since men and women think differently . (If there is no one else to help, it can temporarily work.)

– Be open to listen to the wisdom of the experience of others.

– Not everyone’s path is right for everyone else. But the Twelve Steps can be.

– Requirements kill real alcoholics.

– Break anonymity where appropriate – in order to offer your help.

– Atheists can stay sober; they have a HP – for them, it’s the group!

– Let yourself have a QT and let your God evolve to what He is for you.]

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