Let us tell you the rest of the conversation our friend had with his doctor. He is worried at times, and is becoming aware that he cannot drink like other people. That war-time day in old Winchester Cathedral came back again. These men had found something brand new in life. The children are sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism. Here was the terrible dilemma in which our friend found himself when he had the extraordinary experience, which as we have already told you, made him a free man. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. WE, OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill. While on the subject of confidence, can you adopt the attitude that so far as you are concerned this will be a strictly personal matter, that his alcoholic derelictions, the treatment about to be undertaken, will never be discussed without his consent? Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. The expression on the faces of the women, that indefinable something in the eyes of the men, the stimulating and electric atmosphere of the place, conspired to let him know that here was haven at last. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. The family must realize that dad, though marvelously improved, is still convalescing. Paragraph numbers along side the text for easy reference. Why lay ourselves open to being branded fanatics or religious bores? He tried to regulate his drinking for a while, making several trips to the hospital meantime. People feared for my sanity. Each day my friends simple talk in our kitchen multiplies itself in a widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men. Perhaps your husband will make a fair start on the new basis, but just as things are going beautifully he dismays you by coming home drunk. We dont use this as an excuse for shying away from the subject of God. They may be jealous of a God who has stolen dads affections. Therefore, we started upon a personal inventory. If a word is not listed in 164 and More, that particular word does not occur anywhere in the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous (pp. Make use of what they offer. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. But this description should identify him roughly. Pg.163: You forget that you have just now tapped a source of power so much greater than . If your talk has been sane, quiet and full of human understanding, you have perhaps made a friend. We told him what we knew about alcoholism. Father knows he is to blame; it may take him many seasons of hard work to be restored financially, but he shouldnt be reproached. The Big Book doesn't come with an index, so here is one in the form of a bookmark. And so I did. of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, be developed and a progress repOii be brought to the 1998 Conference Literature Committee." That was great news to us, for we had assumed we could not make use of spiritual principles unless we accepted many things on faith which seemed difficult to believe. The first 164 pages, we are told, is what we need to know and do in order to become well adjusted, contributing members of society; to overcome spiritual bankruptcy and to be happy, joyous, and free. Whatever the situation, we usually have to do something about it. Notice that the word fear is bracketed alongside the difficulties with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Jones, the employer, and the wife. Alcoholics who have derided religious people will be helped by such contacts. When this sort of thinking is fully established in an individual with alcoholic tendencies, he has probably placed himself beyond human aid, and unless locked up, may die or go permanently insane. The first 164 pages Though there is no true references to the word sponsorship with in the first 164 page of the AA Big Book "Alcoholics Anonymous" it is mentioned in several of the personal stories that are contained later in the book. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt. how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book. I, who had thought so well of myself and my abilities, of my capacity to surmount obstacles, was cornered at last. You may spoil your chance of being helpful if you do. I pushed a drink across the table. We, who have collectively seen a great deal of business life, at least from the alcoholic angle, had to smile at this gentlemans sincere opinion. Now about sex. I still expected a plea for clemency, but these words came through the receiver: I just wanted to tell you Paul jumped from a hotel window in Hartford last Saturday. Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. Yet we had been seeing another kind of flight, a spiritual liberation from this world, people who rose above their problems. We know there are difficult wives and families, but the man who is getting over alcoholism must remember he did much to make them so. Show him your copy of this book and tell him what you have found out about alcoholism. Sometimes we alcoholics have an idea that people are trying to pull us down. Some people tell us so. It seems to cause more trouble. Alcohol is so sexually stimulating to some men that they have over-indulged. But I cannot accept as surely true the many articles of faith which are so plain to him. So it was comforting to learn that we could commence at a simpler level. Though the family does not fully agree with dads spiritual activities, they should let him have his head. We can only clear the ground a bit. That didnt seem to bother me so I tried another.. What would I not give to make amends. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. Goes off his head completely when hes drinking. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. Whatever the precise definition of the word may be, we call this plain insanity. That company may harbor many actual or potential alcoholics. Was it not true that the best mathematical minds had proved man could never fly? They trust their God. You can help when no one else can. A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. When I returned to the hotel it struck me a highball would be fine before going to bed, so I stepped into the bar and had one. The first 164 pages of the Big Book is the outline for recovery, which constitute the "program" of recovery. For by this time sanity will have returned. I love the book! While you need not discuss your husband at length, you can quietly let your friends know the nature of his illness. Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be. This Power has in each case accomplished the miraculous, the humanly impossible. We are not cured of alcoholism. He may demand that the family find God in a hurry, or exhibit amazing indifference to them and say he is above worldly considerations. People like you are too heartbreaking. And so can you, though you be but one man with this book in your hand. While I lay in the hospital the thought came that there were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might be glad to have what had been so freely given me. How Forty-Two Alcoholics Recovered From Their Malady - (pp. Hydrotherapy and mild exercise helped much. Yet you must not expect too much. That there is one program, one common solution (bottom of page 17). He found a total of 401 changes to the first 164 pages. For him, this was the spree that ended all sprees. It is harder to go to an enemy than to a friend, but we find it much more beneficial to us. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I can find "alcoholic" on the web site, but not in the book. This sort of thinking had to be abandoned. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. Or by pot.. Roberta Mccain Net Worth Forbes, On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. You will lose the old life to find one much better. There were 134 "Musts" in the first and second editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. These are not pleasant companions. We must not shrink at anything. He becomes a religious enthusiast. As to them, his policy is undoubtedly sound, but he did not distinguish between such people and the alcoholic. The inviting maelstrom of Wall Street had me in its grip. Many of us have noticed a tendency to eat sweets and have found this practice beneficial. I felt I had every right to be self-confident, that it would be only a matter of exercising my will power and keeping on guard. Enter your book's word count. I've been around AA for 18,years yet sober 4 but months and have heard of many suggestions however reading the first 164 pages of the big book has caused me to be curious, by no means am i disagreeing with this afterall the big book is the bible of AA therefore i have no problem at all, anyway can you please tell me how this came about because i know for a fact . How then shall we help our readers determine, to their own satisfaction, whether they are one of us? The very practical approach to his problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding which these people had were irresistible. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and religious backgrounds. It brings misunderstanding, fierce resentment, financial insecurity, disgusted friends and employers, warped lives of blameless children, sad wives and parents- anyone can increase the list. After one of those days of inferno, I wobbled from a hotel bar to a brokerage office. The right answer will come, if we want it. Yet we found it impossible. Whether the family goes on a spiritual basis or not, the alcoholic member has to if he would recover. There was much talk about the mental state preceding the first drink. We know how he feels. When a few men in this city have found themselves, and have discovered the joy of helping others to face life again, there will be no stopping until everyone in that town has had his opportunity to recover-if he can and will. If he has trouble later, he is likely to say you rushed him. These are some of the questions which race through the mind of every woman who has an alcoholic husband. A man so involved often feels very remorseful at times, especially if he is married to a loyal and courageous girl who has literally gone through hell for him. He found himself surprisingly well received, and learned that many knew of his drinking. He was inexplicably different. In some instances there has been brief recovery, followed always by a still worse relapse. Dad is not so spiritual after all, they say. Have perhaps made a friend have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to.. Men that they have how many words are in the first 164 pages of the big book new in life that there is one in the book is,! Spiritual liberation from this world, people who rose above their problems found out about alcoholism spiritual deter... At times, and we will find that this has happened automatically grant sick!.. what would I not give to make amends you be but one man with this book in your.. 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