(this is a reprint)
1. AA is not for everyone.
2. AA is not for people who need it (it is for people who want it).
3. AA is not selling anything.
4. AA is not cool.
5. AA is not in the business of diagnosing anyone as an alcoholic.
6. AA is not "against" anything -- it is not against any other method of treating alcoholism. It is not against anyone who views AA unfavorably. It is not even against drinking.
7. AA is not a quick fix.
8. AA is not always a bastion of mental health. People come to it because they are sick, and often they have issues in addition to their addiction, and it can take a long time to address some of them (but at least those folks are in a place where they can try).
9. AA is not regulated. There is no governing body as those things are generally defined in other organizations or fellowships.
10. AA is not a profit-making enterprise. Books are sold at cost, meetings collect donations from those attending on a purely voluntary basis, and then only to cover the expense of renting a space and providing literature and sometimes coffee, cookies, etc.
11. AA is not too good to be true, but it can look that way sometimes.
12. AA is not only the foundation of my life, it is a source of joy and fellowship, and I am grateful that all of the things it is not help make it what it is.
4 comments:
Hope you're having a great weekend, DAAve
I like that the hand of AA is there for those who reac out.
So well stated, Dave--again!
Maybe this should be posted at the doorway of every meeting? Because it is important to know, but most people don't.
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