[laurie6781]

My first 4th step was a real doosey.

Before I could ever attempt it as laid out in the BB, I sat and I wrote and I wrote and I wrote, my WHOLE LIFE HISTORY, everything I could remember. Then after I finished "the great american novel" all 342 pages of it, roflmao, I took it to my sponsor. Bev sat there and read and read and read. I believe I made 2 pots of coffee while she read it ALL (this was on a saturday). When she was finally finished, she set it down, looked at me and said:

"Now you are ready to get serious about your fourth step." You see my sponsor knew me well enough by then to understand that without that "novel" I would never have been able to GET HONEST, to MAKE A SEARCHING AND FEARLESS MORAL INVENTORY of myself. Then and only then was I ready to sit down at the breakfast bar, with her, and her husband Hugh, and a brand new legal pad in front of me.

I must also tell you that by taking the time to write that autobiography (which I still have) it grounded me with Steps 1, 2 and 3. I saw with clarity, the INSANITY of my life, the same acts and actions over and over expecting different results. I saw through my own words how my life had gone "to h*ll in a handbasket" from my actions. I 'saw" where I had gone wrong and all my defects scattered throughout that recitation.

There is nothing wrong with what you are doing, I know of many others over these many many ODAATs that have also done it this way. It is a way to unleash and uncover all those 'tidbits' both "good and bad" that we buried for so long. I have worked with many over the years, some need to do it this way, and some can jump right in. Each of us is different.

Ask and allow your sponsor to 'guide' you.

I would suggest when you are as done as done can be with your "Life Story" you take it to your sponsor and sit with her as she reads it. Then you, in all liklihood will be ready for that Fourth Step.

JMHO

Love and (((((to all))))),