My Recovery: A.A. Slogans (Pt. 1)


I go to A.A. at least twice a week. I mainly sit there, absorb, and leave. I’m into the message, not the medium. I am into the Big Book, but I am not a huge advocate of A.A. I take what I need from it and I leave the rest for someone else.
That being said, A.A. has a lot of terrific slogans that can be applied to anything in life. I have compiled a list and put comments next to each one as to what I think that slogan means for me, not for you, for me. Feel free to comment with any I have missed. You don’t have to go to A.A. to benefit from A.A., but it is one of the pillars by which I remain sober today.
Here is Part I of the list. I will post the rest of the list down the road:
- Easy does it—slowing my world down. It means not getting too high, not getting too low.
- First things first—always keeping my sobriety first, no matter what is happening in my life, sobriety first, everything else second.
- Live and let live–I will live my life and be at peace letting others live theirs.
- But for the grace of god–if it wasn’t for God, I’d be in deep shit.
- Let go and let god–hand over your control, your troubles, your woes to God and let Him handle them for you.
- This too shall pass–nothing lasts forever, don’t get too caught up in your issues, they will not be with you forever.
- Keep coming back….it works if you work it–if you can do nothing more, then just keep showing up.
- Stick with the winners–hang with the folks who have been following the program and staying sober.
- Sobriety is a journey….not a destination–there is no end-game. I will be an alcoholic fighting to stay sober forever.
- Faith without works is dead–you can be as spiritual as you want, but without practicing those same principles, it’s irrelevant.
- If god seems far away, who moved?–a ponderance that makes you realize you need to get with God, or spirituality.
- Turn it over–the main tenant of Step 3. Turning my problems, issues, concerns, etc over to my Higher Power.
- We are only as sick as our secrets–whatever you hold onto and don’t let go will keep you sick and/or in addiction.
- There are no coincidences in AA–everything in A.A. happens for a reason, and that reason is God (Higher Power).
- Be part of the solution, not the problem–stay out of your way as you seek the solution to your problem, or you will be the problem.
Please remember, my interpretations of these slogans may be different for you. What effect, if any, do some of these slogans have on your life? I have part two coming tomorrow. I’d love to hear if you have any other AA slogans, and how they have applied to your own life and/or sobriety.
The ones that I always come back to in my life are ‘this too shall pass’ and ‘turn it over’. I had never heard the one ‘if God seems far away, who moved?’ but it is so fitting…. usually in my darkest days when I try to ‘turn it over’ – completely surrender my problems, my thoughts, my mind to God – I can not find Him…..I will scream and yell at Him for leaving. In that depressed state I do not think rational. But even with my yelling and screaming, sometimes even cursing at Him, He has never let me go. Ever. It always passes. And He has never let me go. Never let me out of His sight, no matter how far I ran.
He is you
I dont know…. you would think He would then do a better job at keeping depression out…. I see Him more as a bystander who loves me completely and will never let me go.
Not to me. Not a bystander. You are the Great Spirit and in that is everything that was, is, will be
Then great. That means you have the strength in you. The ultimate strength.
Somewhere
It is there. It is in you.
Yes it is. Right now I don’t care. I’m very angry and disillusioned. As soon as I run towards something I run just as fast the other way. You’d think I’m a fucking marathon runner. My muse left me, I can tell. I can always tell
You have mail. Who or what is your muse?
My Poetic muse. Not a human. I don’t know exactly. She’s been with me for many life cycles. Translates emotions into words for me
Then we will find her again. She has been wit you for so many years, she has not left Rob. She is nearby.
When she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be. I just have to sit in a corner of my essence and wait
then we sit in a corner and wait. if she needs a break from writing, then maybe you need a break from writing.
All of it.
Come back to me Rob.
I’m here
We will fix this.
There is no fixing this. I’m in the wormhole and hurtling through
Then please hang on. You have been in this wormhole before. Just hang on.
This one’s without booze. I’m worried.
Then get someone! You are in a freakin facility. get someone. I am worried about you
It’s just my head and emotions is all gathering their gloom and doom. I won’t be physically hurt and I won’t drink. Don’t worry
I wish I was there. If we both close our eyes and wish, maye it will come true?
I wish you were too
Mail
You’ve got mail
Everyone has to interpret things to find their own truth in the matter! I like this 🙂
I am glad that you do! I just wanted to clarify that everyone will have their own meaning relative to each of the slogans. I am glad you picked up on that.