SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post

PaulN · 11-20-2008, 12:08 PM

I searched in my early years, looking for an easier softer way to take the steps. Found all kinds of well written materials on how to take this step or that step. But in the end, I came away more confused than I was when I started. Bottom line, I got stuck for quite some time.

I used to be the kind of guy that would use the BB as a reference rather than simply follow the suggestions provided. That may be hard to believe, but I couldn't seem to get my arms around the fact that my life would be different beyond anything I ever imagined by simply reading & apply what's contained in 164 pages of a book written by 100 drunks. Deep in the back of mind, I thought there had to be an angle or some trick to it all.

Here's something good I heard on a tape or from other AA's .... look at the BB as a recipe for your favorite cake. Everything you need to make that cake exactly the way you like it, is there. But ... if you decide that you want to add to the recipe and lets say use 3 eggs instead of 2, or 2 cups of flour instead of 3, you're changing the recipe. It's certainly your right and your choice but in the end, it's doubtful you'll be eating the cake that you enjoy.

Turns out for me after all these years, the cake I enjoy eating is the same cake that the original 100 AA's ended up writing a recipe for. May seem really simplistic, but I guess that's the point ... it is simple. I got no problem with other materials as a reference when it comes to recovery. If it educates me and keeps me learning, them I'm all in. But like I said ... I know what the recipe is for the cake I love. In taking the steps yourself, my hopes are you've come to the same conclusion.

One last comment ... you mentioned you're close to completing the steps, which is awesome. As you know, you never really complete them ... you just continue living them a day at a time. As you begin taking another through the steps, use the recipe that's provided & proven to work. Share how the cakes you've made in doing the same, have turned out. You do that, then the God of my understanding, will have you enjoying your cake even more.

I wish you much luck & success with your prospect as well as for you too.

11-20-2008, 12:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
PaulN Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: IL Posts: 108	I searched in my early years, looking for an easier softer way to take the steps. Found all kinds of well written materials on how to take this step or that step. But in the end, I came away more confused than I was when I started. Bottom line, I got stuck for quite some time. I used to be the kind of guy that would use the BB as a reference rather than simply follow the suggestions provided. That may be hard to believe, but I couldn't seem to get my arms around the fact that my life would be different beyond anything I ever imagined by simply reading & apply what's contained in 164 pages of a book written by 100 drunks. Deep in the back of mind, I thought there had to be an angle or some trick to it all. Here's something good I heard on a tape or from other AA's .... look at the BB as a recipe for your favorite cake. Everything you need to make that cake exactly the way you like it, is there. But ... if you decide that you want to add to the recipe and lets say use 3 eggs instead of 2, or 2 cups of flour instead of 3, you're changing the recipe. It's certainly your right and your choice but in the end, it's doubtful you'll be eating the cake that you enjoy. Turns out for me after all these years, the cake I enjoy eating is the same cake that the original 100 AA's ended up writing a recipe for. May seem really simplistic, but I guess that's the point ... it is simple. I got no problem with other materials as a reference when it comes to recovery. If it educates me and keeps me learning, them I'm all in. But like I said ... I know what the recipe is for the cake I love. In taking the steps yourself, my hopes are you've come to the same conclusion. One last comment ... you mentioned you're close to completing the steps, which is awesome. As you know, you never really complete them ... you just continue living them a day at a time. As you begin taking another through the steps, use the recipe that's provided & proven to work. Share how the cakes you've made in doing the same, have turned out. You do that, then the God of my understanding, will have you enjoying your cake even more. I wish you much luck & success with your prospect as well as for you too.