JUL 27, 25..IN A WAY.. WE HAVE NO NEW IDEAS..

 IN A WAY.. WE IN A.A. HAVE NO NEW, ORIGINAL, PRINCIPLES..

If you take a long, hard look at our principles, Trust God, Clean House, Trust Others as well as our 12 Steps and our 12 Traditions, almost all major religions as well as other spiritual seekers in many other fields of thought, have come to use the same basic spiritual principles we use.

This really leapt out at me when NATIONAL TODAY featured the below Holiday back on July the 19th.

 Across the United States, the third Saturday in July recognizes Toss Away the "Could Haves" and "Should Haves" Day. 

In short, don't go through life with regrets.

How about these concepts.

Let go of the past and live for the present. 

The first step to participating in this day is to find a pen and paper. 

Then write down your "could haves" and "should haves" on the paper. 

Finally, throw away the list. 

Once you have thrown your "could haves" and "should haves" in the trash, make the following resolution:

"From this day forward, I choose not to live in the past. The past is history that I can not change. I can do something about the present; I choose to live in the present."

Don’t dwell on the things you cannot control. We call this Acceptance and we say the Serenity Prayer!

Focus on the things that matter. You must prioritize the present and be optimistic about the future. Spend less time asking yourself questions like “why did I do that?”. Altering the past is firmly out of our control, so we must focus on the here and now. Wasting time on regrets will accomplish nothing. The idea is to live life to the fullest to have no regrets when it ends. 

To see the full NATIONAL TODAY writing just click onto the below link.

https://nationaltoday.com/toss-away-the-could-haves-and-should-haves-day/

Now here is where we do differ. It is my experience that we in A.A. work far harder and with much more diligence to practice our principles than do those in other religious and spiritual fields.

Good stuff!

OCT 27, 24 .. THE TENTH STEP AND THE 12 AND 12..

Here we are, it's October the 10th month, when many meetings discuss Step 10.

If I had to name just one step that I personally feel is the most important to me, it would be Step 10.

Doctor Bob's last words to Bill W. were.. 

"Remember Bill, let's not louse this thing up. Let's keep it simple."

Some members may not know that, until the Big Book was written, beginning in 1938 and published on April 10th, 1939, there were no steps to be followed. 

The one and most important thing we share with the early members, is the magic of one alcoholic working with another alcoholic sharing their own experience.

Written by Bill W. and published in 1953, 18 years after Bill and Doctor Bob met and began what was to become AA, The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (The 12 and 12) explains the 24 basic principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and their application.

Below, on page 92 of the 12 and 12, in my humble opinion, are some of the most important words in all of written recovery literature..

Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong, and then we approach true tolerance and see what real love for our fellows actually means. It will become more and more evident as we go forward that it is pointless to become angry, or to get hurt by people who, like us, are suffering from the pains of growing up.

So there you have it. October. Step 10. 

Your Ally .. S.W. in London (for anonymity) 

MAY 29, 23 .. AMENDS

I know, it is not September nor is it October. I know, it is not the 9th month nor the 10h month when we traditionally talk about the 9th and the 10th Steps regarding the Amends process. 

But here we go, in May, discussing Amends.

There are several important things about making Amends.

First..

The Doctor's Opinion, page xxviii of the Big Book, states:

"Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol."

I will translate this: We drink because we want to change how we feel!

The point of the 12 Steps of Recovery is so that we feel better about ourselves and don't want to, nor need to, drink to change how we feel.

Got it? Our mission is to feel good within and about ourselves.

Second..

We make Amends for ourselves. We make Amends to clear up our wreckage of the past (9th Step) or our wreckage of the present (10th Step).

We make Amends so we, not the recipient, feels better. Yes we want, and hope, our recipient also feels better but we're in this for ourselves. So we feel good. At ease. At peace with others and with the world.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

What IF we have not harmed someone else? What if our issue about another person is 100% within our own brain. What if the recipient of our angst will never, ever, know what we are, or were, thinking of them? 

Today's Big Question : Do we owe that person an Amend for thinking bad thoughts about them?

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

No we don't and Yes we very well may want to make an Amend.

No we don't! If you have, in no way insulted, harmed, or done wrong to another person why on earth would you say: "I want to make an Amend to you because I had bad thoughts about you!"

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Yes we do! But not in the traditional sense of the word. We're not going to make Amends to our friend per se.

One of my very best, and one of my closest friends, "Wronged me", or "So I thought!"

So I did a little ranting, and I did a little raving, both in my head as well as to my wife. 

And then I suddenly discovered that my friend had not done what I was (in my mind) accusing them of. They were 100% innocent and I was 100% guilty.

What is our mission here? Our mission is to feel good within and about ourselves.

So verbally, and with a few written notes, I explained to my wife how I had (in my own mind) wronged my friend. 

What did I really do? I made an Amend to the Universe!

And. 

Mission Accomplished : I really, and I truly, felt much, MUCH, better about myself.

Hang in there friends. We have progress not perfection!

OCT 25, 22 .. TRADITION 10

I cannot believe this : I have not yet shared my own personal experience about the 10th Tradition. 

In many meetings around the world, it is common to name as a topic, the step that coincides with the number of the month. Often one meeting a month the topic will be the tradition that coincides with the number of the month. And when this occurs, often you will hear muffled groans because, in general, the traditions are somewhat of a bore to some, if not many, members.

October is the 10th month, thus the 10th step is often discussed during October meetings. 

Often you will hear .. 

"The Steps keep us from killing ourself. The Traditions keep us from killing one another!"

"The Steps are for the individual members . The Traditions are for the Groups."

During the 9 months that I spent in Russia carrying the AA message, two things stood out and actually amazed me.

1. Never ever at any time in any meeting, large or small, did I ever hear any resistance or negativity to the word God.

I don't know what I was expecting but I certainly thought there would be some opinions (Do we have to believe in God?) concerning God or a Higher Power.

2. The Russian members were especially interested in The Traditions and often asked me to share my experience and insight into them.

I was certainly happy that I had a strong background in The Traditions.

- - - - - - - - 

Tradition 10 : Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

The Washingtonian Society was an organization established to help alcoholics. It flourished and did quite well in the 1840's but then quickly failed because it allowed its members to get involved in issues that were outside the purview of helping only alcoholics. 

If you study the 10th Tradition in the A.A. book TWELVE STEPS and TWELVE TRADITIONS, on page 178-179 you will read  .. "The Washingtonians permitted politicians and reformers, both alcoholic and nonalcoholics to use the society for their own purposes." .. "Within a few years they had completely lost their effectiveness in helping alcoholics."

The Question is : How can Tradition 10 be applied to our own, individual lives?

The importance of attending meetings of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous cannot be overstated.  Out of all the various reasons that members relapse, the number one reason for relapse is that they stopped attending meetings.

This is is why we often warn new members about getting involved in a personal relationship. Often relationships break up with some angst and animosity between the two people. Then, because they don't want to see each other at meetings, they stop going to meetings and they risk losing their sobriety! 

Now we come to my own personal experience this week with another member of the fellowship and how I used Tradition 10 to avoid antagonizing a good friend. If it is possible, I don't want to be-at-odds with any member!

The Green Bay Packers, a famous professional football team, are the passion of Green Bay and, to some degree, the State of Wisconsin. In fact the Green Bay Packers are a publicly owned corporation basically consisting of the population of Green Bay. The people own the team.

My good friend (not his real name) is Yale. Yale was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Guess what? He is one avid Packer fan. 

I have come to, I hope temporarily, dislike the current Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. And it happens that the Green Bay Packers led by Aaron Rodgers are, at least at this point in the season, having a very poor season with 3 wins and 4 losses. 

Guess what? Knowing how much he likes "his Packers", knowing how he hangs on them, I texted him as follows : 

"Yale .. .. Oh My OH MY .. today's FINAL .. Washington 23 - 21 The Pack !"

He replied : "No reminders please that we SUCK!"

Then it hit me like the proverbial-ton-of-bricks! This is a good friend. This is an issue outside of A.A. I don't want to upset Yale and risk the possibility of having our relationship go-South over an outside issue. 

Step 10 to the rescue. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

I texted him : You know Yale.. After I sent that text I was sorry.. I know.. You know.. all of Green Bay, if not all of Wisconsin, knows how The Pack are doing.. So Yale I plan to refrain from all future comments about The (YOUR) Pack. Some day I'll get into Tradition 10 as is applies. Your Ally.."

He replied : "It's ALL Good!!!"

Then this very evening, a few hours ago, as I sat in a meeting with Yale, before the meeting I very nearly said to him, "Will you be watching The Pack play the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo on Sunday Night Football on NBC?" Knowing the Bills are 10.5 point favorites, the top team in the AFC and may kill poor Dale's Packers.

And? I did as I promised in my text and I said not one word! I just smiled at him and kicked some dirt!

That's How It Works ! IF you work it.

It's called .. Doing-The-Deal !

Ciao4now ..

JAN 28, 21 .. MAKING AN AMEND

Here in A.A., it is so important to actually do-the-deal, walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk when it comes to following our Design for Living.

When it comes to amends, we have two steps to turn to, Steps 9 and 10. In my opinion, the Step 9 amends are done in response to our work in Step 4.

When it comes to living our lives, one day at a time, when we get into a (call it) challenging situation and feel we need to get some relief or respite from something that we have done, then Step 10 comes into play, at least for me.

One of the key principles is simply this : In general, we make amends to help ourselves to clean away the wreckage that we have created. 

Often this does NOT mean we did anything wrong. We can be 100% clear of conscience in that we have done absolutely nothing wrong or mean in spirit, yet we feel in our own heart that we need to make an amend if only to clear-the-air.

Below is an Amend Card that I have made and one that I use.

THE STORY BEHIND THIS AMEND.

Here is what happened. Recently, following the conclusion of a very small zoom online meeting that I attend (small : 5 to 7 men) I asked the other members if we could take a group conscience to discuss our meeting.

So far so good. We have not had a group conscience meeting in forever (years) and, with zoom changing things, I thought it would be a good idea to bat-around some ideas.

For one thing, I suggested that, as part of our meeting format, we allow the meeting leader to, at his discretion, read Big Book passages other than How It Works. As one example, I suggested that reading the first part of Chaper 3, More About Alcoholism, be an option.

At this suggestion, a fellow member exploded. In his passionate rant, he said that he personally and absolutely hated changes in life. In short, he was very upset and went on to verbally attack me personally.

After the meeting, in private, I spoke with each one of the other 5 members about what had happened. Each one said that in my calling a group conscience meeting and leading the discussion I had done nothing wrong and that there was no way that I had to make an amend. Several were furious themselves at his conduct.

And? 

I made an amend, not for him, but for me because I wanted to get the matter out of my head and felt that an amend was the best way to do so.

Below is my amend to him :

I then mailed the amend to him.

The following Tuesday he called me and profusely apologized for his conduct stating that it was him that owed me an amend. 

THE REST OF THE STORY

This man is someone that I go back several decades with in the program and one I consider a close personal associate. I was not willing to wait and see what would happen. Instead I took the reins and am very happy to have done so.

The bottom line remains that my action caused him to be very upset and I was truly sorry not for what I had done, but because I upset him.

OCT 30, 20 .. STEP 10 .. SPIRITUALITY .. DOING-THE-DEAL ..

As we come to the end of October (the 10th month of the year) here is another look at Step 10 along with Spirituality and Doing-The-Deal.

How often do many of us hear these words (from Chapter 5, How It Works, in the Big Book) : "If you have decided you want what we have .." 

What have we? 

As it says in the Big Book (pages 15, 28 and 81) "We have a design for living."

There is one small 'catch' here. After we read and hear the words in Chapter 5.. "If you have decided you want what we have" .. the following words are read .. "and are willing to go to any length to get it" .. "then you are ready to take certain steps."

The way to find, and to implement, our design for living is to work* the 12 Steps.

*work is an action !! The path to our design for living is not a free ride. 

I want my own personal design for living to allow me to feel happy, joyous and free. I want to feel good about myself. 

DOING-THE-DEAL (continue to do what worked for you)

You work the first nine steps and then, in steps 10 / 11 / 12, you continue to Do-The-Deal.

Spiritual Awakening / Experience

Appendix II of the Big Book (SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE) tells us that we have undergone a profound alteration (change) in our reaction to life.

In the spiritual world (NOT so in the physical world) if one of us can change, then we all can change. If we alter our reaction to life one time, then we can again do so.

Because I have been able to achieve the following, so too can you if you want what we have.

Doing-The-Deal 

Because I want to continue to experience our design for living I have to continue to do-the-deal.

I recently took a very serious fall. In falling I hurt my right arm (from my right wrist up to my right shoulder) and as a result I am in some (more or less constant) discomfort. My doctor prescribed Physical Therapy (PT) for me. 

So once or twice a week I go to our local hospital for my PT sessions. To enter the hospital I have to be screened for covid-19. So each and every single hospital visit I have to hear and to answer the same boring / routine / monotonous (dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest) questions and have a temperature scan. 

And I began to 'hassle' the hospital staff. 

"Sir have you an appointment today?"

"No. I just wanted to come to the hospital and 'hang out' all day for something to do. Of course I have an appointment."

"Do you ask these questions in your sleep?"

"I don't know IF I have been around anyone with covid-19 because many carriers are asymptomatic."

And on and on and on .. blah blah blah ..

Step 10 - The other day I did a spot check inventory (pages 87 and 88 in the Big Book) of myself.

I don't like how I am acting to these dedicated hospital employees! I am going to change the way I have been acting! Just one time, the next time I am here, I will be polite and I will act courteously.

And? I did.

As I left the hospital I said to the door staff, "How did I do today?" All of them smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.

And? I am now batting 100%. So far I have been a nice, polite person.

If I can do the deal, so too can you, IF you want to live our design for living.

JUN 26, 20 .. ANGER, RESENTMENT, 10th STEP .. WALK THE WALK .. DO THE DEAL

On page 90, under Step Ten, in the book The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditons, we are advised that even "justified" anger should be left to those better qualified to handle it.

In the Big Book on page 66 we are told : "If we were to live, we had to be free of anger."

Never forget that anger is one letter away from Danger. When I feel anger cropping up I immediately think DANGER! And try to immediately evaluate the situation.

Each and every time we read How It Works (Chapter 5) we are asked, "If you want what we have..".

What have we got here? A Design For Living. The A.A. Program offers us a way of life that will allow us to be happy, joyous and free.

On page 64 of the Big Book we are told that : Resentment is the "number one" offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else.

Step 10 : "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."

Therefore if we want to be happy, joyous and free then we can not harbor anger and resentment.

The bottom line here is this : We've got to Do The Deal, Walk The Walk and not Talk The Talk.

Day One.

While staying in a motel during a recent trip, I had occasion to go to the front office of the motel. As I walked out of my room and headed up the sidewalk towards the motel office (I did not see the lady in the doorway of the room next to mine) as I passed the next room this lady blew a large puff of cigarette smoke into my face.

Instant Anger. As this enormous puff of cigarette smoke hit my face, to clear the air, I instantly and visciously waved my arms and shook an ice bucket that I was carrying. 

She said : "I have a right to smoke."

I did the right thing. I kept walking. 

I did NOT engage her. I returned to my room another way circumventing passing her.

However my anger was then joined by feelings of resentment toward this  'crone' -  an old woman, disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner.

On-the-spot she took up (rent-free) space in my mind.

I did a Step 10 inventory. 

I concluded that I didn't think she deliberately blew smoke into my face. I also thought about having to be living beside this 'crone' for who-knows-how-long with my mind filled with anger and resentment.

Day Two.

The next morning, after seeing that she was again smoking in her doorway, I headed for the front office of the motel. As I passed my local 'crone' I said to her : "Ma'am, I am sorry if I was rude to you yesterday morning."

And I kept on walking. I did NOT engage with her. Again I returned to my room a back way circumventing further contact with her.

Day Three.

As I had done the previous day, after seeing her smoking in her doorway, I again walked past her saying : "Ma'am, I can see that you are handicapped. IF my wife and I can be of assistance to you, please knock on our door."

Again I kept walking and did not engage with her.

Day Four.

As we were getting into our truck, 'she' was in her doorway (smoking) and I said, "My name is and my wife's name is. Again IF we may be of assistance to you, please knock on our door."

She replied : "My name is Linda."

And?

That was that. Linda became our friend. She is handicapped and elderly and is basically living in her car staying in the motel when she has the money to do so.

And?

I had a choice. 

Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy?

Do I really and truly want to be happy, joyous and free or not?

In my heart I feel that I made the 'right-call' on this.

JAN 7, 19 .. THE WRITTEN 10th STEP

WRITTEN TENTH (10^th) STEP ..

In the last full paragraph at the bottom of page 84 of the U.S. ‘Big Book’ we are  told : “This is not an overnight matter.  It should continue for our lifetime.  Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear.  When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them.  We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.”

Below is a WRITTEN TENTH (10th) STEP . This is to be done in hand using pen / pencil and paper NOT on a computer!

Write down the Third Step Prayer (page 63 of the U.S. ‘Big Book’).

 “God, I offer myself to thee – to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!”

Now write:  ‘I have resentments.’

List what you are feeling: ‘I resent ________’.  Continue listing resentments until you cease to actively feel them.  Do NOT stop to ponder them ! 

Now write: ‘I have fears.’

List your fears: ‘I fear (I am afraid of) _________’ . Continue listing your fears until you cease to actively feel them.  Do NOT sit and ponder them!

Now you are going to do a second cycle. 

This second look at your resentments and fears is why you do NOT sit and ponder what you are going to write in the first cycle above.

 

Again write: ‘I resent ________’. Continue listing resentments until you cease to actively feel them. IF you have no resentments on this second cycle just write: “I have no more resentments.”

Again write: ‘I fear (I am afraid of) _________’ . Continue listing fears until you cease to actively feel them. IF you have no fears this second time through just write .. “I have no more fears.”

Write: “God, I am now willing to have you remove these resentments and these fears.”

Write: “God, please remove these resentments and these fears.”

Write the Seventh Step Prayer (page 76 of the U.S. ‘Big Book’).

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”

Write the Eleventh Step Prayer  (page 88 of the U.S. ‘Big Book: “Thy will be done.”

Write: “Thank you God” .. “I love you God” ..

 /s/ sign you name and date your Tenth Step ..

THEN READ YOUR  ENTIRE TENTH  STEP TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

You have just worked eight of the twelve steps !

OCT 11, 18 .. STEP TEN

October, the 10th month of the year has arrived. It is now time to discuss my thoughts on the 10th Step.

Step 10 : Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

We have many sayings in A.A. 

One goes states ..

All of the steps are important. Work them in order. They were numbered for a reason.

Of course this is basically true. At the same time, they are not meant to paralyze you with delays and indecision. Get on with them. Steps 1 through 7 can be done in literally a matter of  several hours.

Does this fact that the first seven steps can be done in a matter of a few hours shock you?

Consider the fact that, according to our written history in World Service Conference approved literature, the following facts are indisputable. 

Doctor Bob made his Amends ON the same day that he took his last drink. There was no Big Book, there were no steps. He just went out and promptly made his amends.

Do I personally recommend doing this? No! I certainly do not. But don't spend the rest of your life stuck on Step 9 either.

The most important thing to the early members was their quiet time (read prayer and meditation) in the morning. It's a wonder Step 11 was not put in as Step 2.

Why are we trying to stop people from immediately getting the benefits of Step 11 by saying they must work the steps in order, 1 through 12?

Newcomers with literally hours or WOW, even a few days dry, were helping other newcomers still in the hospital. So much for all of our 'unwritten requirements' for people to sponsor (you must have so many days / weeks / months / even years to sponsor).

For me, Step 10 is extremely important.

Step 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

I will repeat the above. For the rest of our lives we are to continue to take personal inventory and to make amends when we are wrong or have harmed someone else.

What this amazing Step 10 does is this : 

Because you will continue to take personal inventory for the rest of your life, you can get through your Step 4 inventory quickly. I was given one hour to write down the things I was going to take-to-my-grave with me. 

Whatever you will miss (and yes, you will miss a lot of things) on your first pass through your 4th Step, you will find later doing Step 10 work.

The same for Step 9. Making amends is a life-long, ongoing process for us IF we want to follow our Design For Living given us in the 12 Steps. So when you come to Steps 8 and 9, get-on-with-them quickly and continue the process the rest of your life.

My Sponsor of now over 30-years, Jim C, in the San Francisco Bay Area gave to me the following gift.

THE WRITTEN 10th STEP ..

A WRITTEN TENTH (10^th) STEP .. as taught me by Jim ‘C’ in San Francisco ..

In the last full paragraph at the bottom of page 84 of the ‘Big Book’ .. we are  told .. “This is not an overnight matter.  It should continue for our lifetime.  Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear.  When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them.  We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.”

Below is a WRITTEN TENTH (10th) STEP . This is to be done in hand using pen / pencil and paper NOT on a computer!

Write down the Third Step Prayer (page 63 of the ‘A.A. Big Book’).  “God, I offer myself to thee – to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!”

Now write:  ‘I have resentments.’

List what you are feeling: ‘I resent ________’.  Continue listing resentments until you cease to actively feel them.  Do NOT stop to ponder them ! 

Now write: ‘I have fears.’

List your fears: ‘I fear (I am afraid of) _________’ . Continue listing your fears until you cease to actively feel them.  Do NOT sit and ponder them!

Now you are going to do a second cycle. This second look at your resentments and fears is why you do NOT sit and ponder what you are going to write in the first cycle above. 

Again write: ‘I resent ________’. Continue listing resentments until you cease to actively feel them. IF you have no resentments on this second cycle just write: “I have no more resentments.”

Again write: ‘I fear (I am afraid of) _________’ . Continue listing fears until you cease to actively feel them. IF you have no fears this second time through just write .. “I have no more fears.”

Write: “God, I am now willing to have you remove these resentments and these fears.”

Write: “God, please remove these resentments and these fears.”

Write the Seventh Step Prayer (page 76 of the ‘A.A. Big Book’). “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”

Write the Eleventh Step Prayer  (page 88 of ‘The A.A. Big Book: “Thy will be done.”

Write: “Thank you God” .. “I love you God” ..

 /s/ sign you name and date your Tenth Step ..

THEN READ YOUR  ENTIRE TENTH  STEP TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

You have just worked eight of the twelve steps !

Step 3 .. you wrote the Third Step Prayer.

Step 4 .. you wrote a short inventory on resentments and fears.

Step 6 .. you became ready to have God to remove your defects of character.

Step 7 .. you humbly asked God to please remove them AND you wrote the Seventh Step Prayer !

Step 11 .. you wrote the Eleventh Step Prayer.

Step 5 .. you shared it with another human being.

Step 10 .. is the above process.

Step 12 .. you have worked with another.

IF NECESSARY .. do an 8^th and a 9^th step .. in concert with the 10^th step above.

Often when I do the above written Tenth Step I also will write about anger I am feeling. I also will write about Gratitude that I am feeling.

I often suggest to newcomers that they do the above process for ten consecutive days. 

I have watched lives change before my very eyes.

There you have it. My thoughts on Step 10.