His roots grasped a new soil. Todays life is measured against that of other years and, when it falls short, the family may be unhappy. Our experience shows that this is not necessarily so. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. Near you, alcoholics are dying helplessly like people in a sinking ship. There is no friction among us over such matters. The text of the 1st 164 pages of Alcoholics Anonymous. But the policy of this company is not to interfere with the habits of our employees. Arrived at this point, we were squarely confronted with the question of faith. Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us. Most of us have entered the final stage with its commitment to health resorts, sanitariums, hospitals, and jails. For a brief moment, I had needed and wanted God. When ready, we say something like this: My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this. Another time, as I opened a letter which lay on my desk, a newspaper clipping fell out. Big Book, page 164. It depends on us and on our motives. Id prove to the world I was important. Perhaps you have a husband who is at large, but who should be committed. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Death was often near. As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine help. In addition to these casual get-togethers, it became customary to set apart one night a week for a meeting to be attended by anyone or everyone interested in a spiritual way of life. That disgusted me. He had plenty of money left and thought I had better go to Canada. He sometimes drinks in the morning and through the day also, to hold his nervousness in check. Some of our alcoholic readers may think they can do without spiritual help. If, on the other hand, they took nothing, their self-pity made them killjoys. As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down. The head of the house ought to remember that he is mainly to blame for what befell his home. There is an important exception to the foregoing. He may rebel at the thought of a drastic housecleaning which requires discussion with other people. Only thirty years later the conquest of the air was almost an old story and airplane travel was in full swing. We found that it is fatal. It may cause him to die a few years before his time. After reading this book, a junior executive can go to such a man and say approximately this, Look here, Ed. Presently the man did slip and was fired. Without knowing it, had we not been brought to where we stood by a certain kind of faith? Golf permitted drinking every day and every night. Sub-sede: Rua Prudente de Moraes, 911 But we must try to repair the damage immediately lest we pay the penalty by a spree. When he renews interest in such things, a feeling of jealousy may arise. To be vital, faith must be accompanied by self sacrifice and unselfish, constructive action. Your husband will see at once that he must redouble his spiritual activities if he expects to survive. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. Phil Smith says: November 13, 2019 at 3:54 pm. He probably has several alcoholics among his own acquaintances. The 164 and More web site. To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face. Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. My old manner of life was by no means a bad one, but I would not exchange its best moments for the worst I have now. Many of us keep liquor in our homes. Now we need more action, without which we find that Faith without works is dead. Lets look at Steps Eight and Nine. He wants to quit drinking and you want to help him, even if it be only a matter of good business. Under these conditions your prospect will see he is under no pressure. This was only a beginning, though if honestly and humbly made, an effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once. Then he had gone to Europe, placing himself in the care of a celebrated physician (the psychiatrist, Dr. Jung) who prescribed for him. As animals on a treadmill, we have patiently and wearily climbed, falling back in exhaustion after each futile effort to reach solid ground. One day he told me about an executive of the same bank who, from his description, was undoubtedly alcoholic. It is followed up with a personal example of the 12 steps in action. If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience. So we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined. He is the Father, and we are His children. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. His religious education and training may be far superior to yours. We realize we know only a little. He should concentrate on his own spiritual demonstration. These are the earmarks of a real alcoholic. The first 164 pages of the Big Book are the basic text. Yet early next morning he searches madly for the bottle he misplaced the night before. First off, its important to be able to tell the difference between a novel and a novella, a short story and a piece of flash fiction. If he wishes to talk, let him do so. Then, in days, weeks, or months, a fresh outburst. His alcoholic problem was taken away. Yet in ancient times material progress was painfully slow. But what about the real alcoholic? You may have to fight with him if he is violent. After one of those days of inferno, I wobbled from a hotel bar to a brokerage office. They need your companionship and your help. The 164 and More Book, eBook, and Web Site are all CONCORDANCES which display passages from the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous, the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and the A.A. Grapevine (A.A. Preamble only). For example, As you type, words are displayed which match your keystrokes. On our grudge list we set opposite each name our injuries. Seeing this, and meaning to be helpful, his wife commenced to admonish him about it. Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences. We may ask for ourselves, however, if others will be helped. Opinions vary considerably as to why the alcoholic reacts differently from normal people. Still the play does not suit him. If he gets drunk, dont blame yourself. of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, be developed and a progress repOii be brought to the 1998 Conference Literature Committee." He has read this volume and says he is prepared to go through with the Twelve Steps of the program of recovery. His action met wide-spread approval, and today he is one of the most trusted citizens of his town. Here is a PDF version of the first 164 pages found in all AA books. The Big Book God References: This exercise is meant to be an individual study aid of the Big Book in which the author identifies the references to God. Of course we couldnt. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. The mind and body are marvelous mechanisms, for mine endured this agony two more years. We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. They will always materialize if we work for them. All this time our friend of the hotel lobby incident remained in that town. We know all about liquor as a social lubricant. Even though your protg may not have entirely admitted his condition, he has become very curious to know how you got well. With this kind of employee such an attitude will command undying loyalty. Let us take another illustration. The more you type, the more precise the results. A reasonable amount of latitude will be helpful. Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didnt fully solve the fear problem, or any other. The Big Book has given me that comfort and the push to move forward. We covered the whole eastern United States in a year. Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility. How could they? Even though your husband becomes unbearable and you have to leave him temporarily, you should, if you can, go without rancor. When it will serve any good purpose, we are willing to announce our convictions with tact and common sense. You will no longer be self-conscious or feel that you must apologize as though your husband were a weak character. Maybe we are divorced, and have remarried but havent kept up the alimony to number one. It began to look as though religious people were right after all. We think few, to whom this book will appeal, can stay dry anything like a year. There you will find release from care, boredom and worry. When a discussion does arise, you might suggest he read this book or at least the chapter on alcoholism. Please check back often as we plan to share with you our experience, strength and hope as we guide . The last few chapters of those pages, however, do become a bit more tedious to read (I think) because they have a certain datedness about them. We were now at Step Three. He is unable to focus on anything else. Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there. Counsel with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge. There were flights from city to country and back, as my wife and I sought escape. As we look over the list of business acquaintances and friends we have hurt, we may feel diffident about going to some of them on a spiritual basis. Alcoholics Anonymous-The Big Book-has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide.First published in 1939, Alcoholics Anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time. Now we try to put spiritual principles to work in every department of our lives. We alcoholics are sensitive people. how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book. Thus we grow. They think we do not have enough of it, or that it isnt the right kind. But I do love How anonymous this The Big Book is an outline for recovery, never claiming to be a "cure" or a certain solution for everyone and anything. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die.
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