Blog / Lifestyle - Social / Alcoholics Anonymous
By August 26, 2021 Lifestyle Social 18 Comments

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most beautiful concept I may have ever witnessed. Though I never directly experienced it, thanks to some of the OTT media services that introduced the program and its deep-rooted meaning to me. Enthralled, I looked up more on the internet about it. And yes! The idea of the program in itself is magnificent, and so is the process.

It, in my understanding, is one of the best ways of accepting and acknowledging one’s pain, coming to terms with it, and understanding the need for a change and living a better life. These are the initiation steps, which are the most difficult in any journey!

Drinking for fun is way different than being an alcoholic. Alcoholism can become a life-destruction weapon, like any other addiction.

AA is a global mutual aid fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. The membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem. It is ‘nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere.’ The program first started in 1935 in Ohio, United States, when a newly sober Bill Wilson helped alcoholic Dr. Bob Smith to leave alcohol and get it out of his system. The duo then started this association that has benefitted more than 2 million people worldwide. 

The core of AA is its meetings. These are (goes without saying) only for alcoholics, thereby avoiding any “judgy” eyes. People open up themselves, speak about their problems and any small or big thoughts that they have in their mind. They share freely as they are unfolding in a group wherein everyone is one of them. It starts with (say if it were me), “Hi, I am Avani, Alcoholic.” The best part is – when one speaks, all listen. There is no advice, no suggestions, no recommendations. The counseling is reserved for the sponsee-sponsor association. You may choose anyone from the program as your sponsor, who is like your ‘go-to person’ for any situation. Usually, a person who’s been a long-time sober in the program becomes a sponsor to someone who is new.

Nevertheless, the meetings are the most crucial part of the fellowship. People look forward to these shares whenever in doubt or crisis and need an urgent clearing of mind! Then there are AA’s Twelve Steps, a set of program principles that should be practiced as a way of life.

Here’s a gist of the Twelve Steps that help you quit alcohol

  • Acceptance that we are powerless over alcohol and that has made our lives unmanageable.
  • A greater Power can restore us to sanity.
  • We have made a decision to turn around our lives.
  • We have created a fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 
  • Admitted our wrongs to ourselves, to any other human being, and God.
  • We have submitted ourselves to God to remove the defects of our character.
  • We humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings.
  • We have made a list of people we have harmed in our past.
  • We will make direct amends to such people wherever possible.
  • Admitting when we are wrong.
  • Prayer and meditation to improve our contact with God.
  • We carry the spiritual awakenings as a result of these steps to other alcoholics.

WoW – No wonder people have really turned their lives around through these steps.

Many other such programs, like Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, exist. I guess it wouldn’t harm to have such groups, probably at a small scale, for any other such compelling addictions or habits.

I choose mine as ‘Impatient Anonymous.’ What’s yours?

Avani Raj Arora

18 thoughts on “Alcoholics Anonymous”

  1. I find your understanding of Alcoholics Anonymous refreshing: kind of unusual for someone who is not an alcoholic. A non-judgement zone, always and the importance of listening. Finding AA was the greatest experience of my life. Discovering the power of alcohol in the first place I guess rates up there with the greatest event.
    Many times I have spent a lot of time responding to comments, only to lose them to the winds. would love to continue if there is anyone out there who is interested.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Bob. I truly feel it an amazing medium – something all of us require in some aspect. I, myself, would want more people to join us and be a part of this forum. Till then, both of us can enjoy losing our contents and intentions to the winds – hopefully somebody rightful would catch up :).

      Reply

      1. Drinking for fun is way different than drinking as an Alcoholic. I like that comment.
        I began drinking as a means of having fun, a lot of it was of course an illusion. Even from the beginning I put myself and others in danger due to my behavior,
        mainly driving while impaired.
        I believe, wholly, that Bill Wilson’s release from the grip of liquor was a free gift from God. I have read Bill’s rendition of his white light experience many times. Page 2 in the AA book, ASBI offers a true spiritual experience. I have read and heard enough experiences to convince me that those Spiritual/Religious experiences are the real thing. I believe that it was God, the Holy Spirit, Who came to visit Bill that night in his hospital bed. Visit might not be the correct word. He (God) came to stay. Bill never took another drink of alcohol. Just a footnote, My Spiritual/Religious Experience happened in the spring of 1970. That merciless obsession to drink was removed and has never returned. I do not expect it to return, unless I again introduce alcohol into my system, To be continued…….

        Reply
        1. Reply
  2. Reply
    1. Reply

  3. I seriously love your site.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you develop this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m hoping to create my own personal site and would like to learn where you got this from or just what the theme is called. Many thanks!

    Reply
    1. Reply
  4. Reply
    1. Reply
  5. Reply
    1. Reply

  6. There is no one who doesn’t make a mistake. The question is whether or not to correct the mistake. Rather than those who try to excuse and rationalize their mistakes, they should soon admit and correct their mistakes and make them their valuable experience

    Reply
  7. Reply
  8. Reply
    1. Reply
  9. Reply
    1. Reply
Leave a Comment