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39.
Slogans
based on old wisdom inspire AA members By
Tom O'Connell Alcoholics
Anonymous has borrowed insights from religion, psychology and
medicine. And it has also borrowed extensively from old wisdom.
For example, a wide variety of slogans, and proverbs, have been
adapted to the AA approach to alcoholism recovery. In
this essay I will provide a sampling gathered from an interesting
book that is probably now out of print. Dr. John M. at Beech Hill
Hospital in Dublin, New Hampshire, put together "The Tip of
the Iceberg," an amazing collection of recovery slogans. *STANDARD
SLOGANS AND SAYINGS: First Things First...Easy Does It (But Do
It)...Remember When... *THE
FIRST DRINK: It's The First Drink That Gets You Drunk...One Drink
Is Too Many--A Thousand Is Never Enough... *DON'T
DRINK: Just Don't Drink...Don't Drink Today! *PEOPLE,
PLACES AND THINGS: Wherever You Go There You Are...Put A Jackass
In A Crate In Boston And Ship It To Los Angeles, Open The Crate,
And You Still Have A Jackass... *WE
MUST CHANGE: No Pain, No Gain...An Attitude Of
Gratitude...Progress Not Perfection...Grow Or Go...Things Don't
Change, We Do... *SICK
NOT BAD: Sick And Tired Of Being Sick And Tired...I'm Here Because
I'm Not All There...I'm Not A Bad Person Trying To Get Good, I'm A
Sick Person Trying To Get Well... *DANGER
OF ANALYSIS VERSUS ACTION: Utilize, Don't Analyze...Analysis Means
Paralysis...You Can Never Think Your Way Out Of
Anything...Stinking Thinking Leads To Drinking... *A
DAILY PROGRAM, A PRESENT ORIENTATION: One Day At A Time...A Step
At A Time...The Joy Is In The journey...Don't Project...The Past
Is History, The Future's a Mystery...You Can Plan, But You Can't
Plan The Outcome...
*LOSS
OF CONTROL: When You Start To Try To Control Your Drinking You've
Already Lost Control...I'm Dying For A Drink...If You Could Have,
You Would Have, But You Didn't So You Can't...Every Time I Drink I
Break Out In Spots (Spots Like Boston, Chicago, etc.) *GIVING
UP CONTROL TO GET CONTROL: Turn It Over...Let Go and Let
God...Get Out Of The Driver's Seat...I Can't, He Can, I
Think I'll Let Him...The Serenity Prayer... *TIME:
It Takes Time...It Gets Better...When The Student Is Ready The
Teacher Appears...Give Time Time... These
and many more sayings like them have helped millions of recovering
alcoholics to heal their minds, bodies and spirits, and to
live useful, meaningful lives. It's all part of one of the most
successful character development programs the world has ever
experienced. AA, founded in 1935, was the first of many Twelve
Step programs designed to help people relate better to God, self,
and others. And the work continues. |
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