Here is the Rhetorical Question :
Do any of you know how any human being (we will assume another Alcoholic) can instill into another human being the desire to go to any lengths in order to stop drinking alcohol?
Several years ago (it was December of 2018) I was speaking in Kyzyl, Russian Siberia. As was always the case, I never knew what I would find when we (me and Mike my Russian translator) entered into a venue.
I always assumed it would be an AA meeting or something to do with AA (visiting a rehabilitation center etc).
When we entered a very large building, I noticed from the people in the corridors (nurses and medical gurneys etc) it was a hospital and I assumed that we would be speaking at an inpatient rehabilitation center within the hospital.
When we got to the top floor, we entered into a large room and we were seated at a table up on a stage. Then, wonder of wonders, into the room flowed an assembly of young men and women wearing white doctor's coats. After everyone was seated, an important (he was the head of the hospital) man came into the room with an aide. After we were formally introducted, he joined us sitting next to me on my right with Mike on my left.
I turned to Mike and asked what was happening. Mike calmly turned to me and said that I was going to address the graduating class of medical students.
I nearly fainted on-the-spot. I am used to talking to groups of AA members or at least other alcoholics wanting to get sober.
I thought silently to myself : What on earth am I going to say to this assembled multitude of graduating medical students?
Bob Earll, one of my AA heros, often would say when he got up to address the attendees at a conference : I wonder what I am going to say today?
After some preliminary remarks by the head of the hospital the time came for me to stand and deliver.
As I stood up (and I mean this) I thought what on earth am I going to say?
OK. Lights, camera, action.
I stood and silently looked out at the group, looking from front to back and from side to side. I have seen this technique used by other speakers addressing other groups than AA members.
And? Here are my opening words :
"I have bad news for you all. I feel that you expect me to have the answer to the issue of alcoholism and, sad to say, I don't have any answers. However, IF someone wants to stop drinking alcohol, we in Alcoholics Anonymous stand ready to assist them."
And? I spoke for two hours.
I always encouraged attendees to interupt me during my talks because people forget their questions if they have to wait until the end of a talk. And their questions assist me to steer my comments in different directions as applicable.
And? I answered a lot of questions during and after my talk. But I could not answer the question of how anyone can successfully transmit to another the desire to go to any length to stop drinking alcohol.
That desire MUST originate within the individual himself or herself.
Judging from the reception and enthusiasm of the questions and comments, and the fact the two hours flew past as if twenty minutes, it turned out to be a successful day for the group.
Still smiling about this day in my life.
