Any alcoholic can help another alcoholic regardless of where each one is on their path.

People with longevity in sobriety can learn from a person who has just made the decision to stop that very day if they share their experiences with one another.

We are not in control. God will use who He chooses at the time to help, heal and have us be there for another human being.

Of course we are participants by making choices by using our free will and volition.

You will not know when God uses you to help improve another alcoholic's life. It's not your job to know.

When you think you know all of the answers whether it's AA or any other type of support group recovery program, all humility goes out the window and ego takes over.

This type of person is no longer teachable and is replacing God's knowledge and power with their own knowledge and pseudo power.

~"We can't give away what we don't have or won't take"

I say we can give away what we do have and God will make that decision as to when it will help someone.

Those who "won't take" have decided humility is not important. Teachability is foreign to them as they refuse to relinquish control. They are unable to set their pride aside. They can see no other way other than their own.

Anna, your support is a gift to others just as it is of any others who offer support here. God uses us all as He chooses.

There is not one person on this board who at one time or another hasn't splattered "bullshit" with what they have to say. Whether their intentions are good or not.

One's who believe they know ALL of the answers of how to remain sober are rather good at this.

We are alcoholics. We are all sick and as you stated, so are you.

I don't believe there is one alcoholic better than any other alcoholic on this forum

Keep it simple.... Relax, keep an open mind, listen, express your thoughts, ask questions, share your experience, strength and hope and also your weaknesses.

We just have to do our best to move forward in sobriety no matter where we are in recovery or where another person is on their path in sobriety.

Judgment of one's recovery as to whether they can "really help each other or anyone else" needs to be thrown out the window.

If only one person had the absolute answer of how to become and stay completely sober, Alcoholism would not be the horrid problem and disease that it is.

..... and none of us would be here having all of these discussions.

the answer is so simple............it is not " Curtis"............and i will contradict my self................it is not self.


it is the inability to harness. the secret is love.................

step outside...........and listen........... and there is sacrifice. but that comes from within. and you will be judged. deal with it.

Yes, absolutely.

This deal is a process for all of us; one day or 3000 -- all any of us have is today. Share it; your expereince, strength, and hope are invaluable.

We don't have to respond to every post. It is okay to read them much of the time and have nothing to say.

Excellent Post!!!!!

Since no one expects perfection from you, and you can honestly share with what you have in that moment, I think your advise comes from a base of strength. We can't always be there to support others. There are times In our lives where we have to take care of ourselves first.

We are all sick. That is why we are here. We share common experiences. Stick with us and keep sharing. It is how we all learn.

Peace and love,
Karen

For me , loving kindness is giving freely, If my motives are to get something out of a situation then that is called avoidance. The focus needs to be firmly planted on me. But if in the passing moments I benefit from the fellowship of my peers That my friend is just being in the mix and benefiting thru association. So parroting solutions though noble , really just depends on my motives...A very hard learned lesson for me... My friend E says ,"Do I want a get better or feel better"....
Billy

Darrell,

Yes, all I have is today. But a HUGE part of what makes this day what it is for me and colors my perceptions of it for better or worse is the pile of memories of what I've been doing with my life for that last couple of decades.

Whether I like it or not, these memories are the backdrop who and what I am today, and they're a heck of a lot more pleasant to live with than the ones I had at one or two years of sobriety.

When we oldfarts say it gets better, "it" means the quality of memories we accumulate after cleaning up the past and building in its place a scrapbook that's always a pleasure to revisit. All that could never have come about except as the result of both time and effort, no two ways about it.