Step 1 on my own

[brother]

Rose, Thank you. The Meeting in Mexico is very inspiring! Some in AA say their HP speaks to them through others...I think I just heard something.
I hope you hold onto the experience in your heart - the time may come when your head tries to tell you it was something else (my opinion - from a similar experience)

"coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous"

[sugErspun]

Originally Posted by brother

Rose: Step 1 on my own. Wow, thanks for sharing this is a great thread! I have a question for all (if its appropriate to this thread?):

Why do you think the Step says, “We admitted” rather than “I admitted?”

this was one of 5 suggested questions for Step 1 from my sponsor. I have tended to view Step 1 as internal & personal work so I don't have a ready answer.

Any Ideas?

A couple of things come to mind.

Common problem and common solution is a "we" deal. Being able to identify with another in this regard is critical to the fellowship.

Second, the book clearly states that it was the experience of multiple people.

Though step 1 must be a personal experience, it's essence is universal amongst alcoholics.

We cannot control our drinking once we start
We cannot avoid the first drink

Do "I" relate to this? If so..there just so happens to be an entire fellowship of people who know exactly what I mean when I say "I can't not drink and it's ruining my life".

[freya]

I guess for me, the "we" is important in general because it is a "we" program -- which means we are not alone and we do not have to do this (recovery) by ourselves.

That's especially important at Step 1 because in Step 1 we are acknowledging and accepting our powerlessness -- and that place of extreme, beaten-down powerlessness is a very, very scary place to be alone. The "we" tells us that we are not alone -- that there are other people who have been then and who are willing to be there with us and, best of all, who have found and will share with us a way to walk through that place to a place of amazing empowerment, a path away from helplessness and hopelessness to hope and unlimited help.

freya

[RoseSalud]

Originally Posted by freya

I guess for me, the "we" is important in general because it is a "we" program -- which means we are not alone and we do not have to do this (recovery) by ourselves.

That's especially important at Step 1 because in Step 1 we are acknowledging and accepting our powerlessness -- and that place of extreme, beaten-down powerlessness is a very, very scary place to be alone. The "we" tells us that we are not alone -- that there are other people who have been then and who are willing to be there with us and, best of all, who have found and will share with us a way to walk through that place to a place of amazing empowerment, a path away from helplessness and hopelessness to hope and unlimited help.

freya

Beautifully put! That's what I now find ironic about the title of this post: "Step 1 on my own". Because once I finally admitted I was powerless over alcohol, I was no longer alone! I had my family at SR, my higher power, and now am finding that God is working through more and more people to connect with me and keep me sober every single day.

Tomorrow I'm off to San Miguel (town about an hour away w/ a huge gringo population), for two AA meetings during the day. Looking forward to being a part of the "we" of AA face to face tomorrow!

Rose

[tmetz]

stay strong, Rose.
Lots of good help on internet

Tom