The three legged stool an introduction

[nandm]

Excerpt from Stools and Bottles

Stools without legs would be hard to visualize, or understand, except by a group of alcoholics to whom unusual sights are no great rarity. Being alcoholic ourselves we boldly present the seat of this stool from which we hope to develope an object lesson to point out the continuity and close relationship between steps 1-2-3.

The true origin of the three legged stool has long been lost in antiquity. But we gratefully accept it as it came to us with a single seat and three legs and no back. Can you imagine the modern bar without it?

The legless seat depicted here is as useless, incomplete and undependable as the shaky alcoholic it upholds---the fellow whom psychiatrists claim "has both feet firmly planted in thin air."

Like the seat, we alcoholics must have legs to support us. Our lives are confused, out of balance, uncontrolled. We should no longer deceive ourselves. We have no tolerance for alcohol. Our physical, mental, and spiritual legs are gone. We need new ones---the A.A. kind which are suggested by Steps 1-2-3.

See post "Three legged stool step one"