Good Tidings of Sobriety, Comfort, and Joy
Not that I’ve written anything new for this blog section in the last couple of years, but I haven’t forgotten that’s it’s here either. (I’ve been long remiss on inviting other fellows to contribute to the blog, since the last thing I want any part of this site to be is all about me.)
And not ironically, this post is of the same topic as the last one, from November 2019: How to have a sober holiday.
Now, had I thought it through, I could have wisely assumed that Alcoholics Anonymous — and its “heart”, the A.A. Grapevine — has long had some proven ideas of how to do exactly that. Not surprisingly, they have twelve. So this year I will humbly turn over the need to ofer my own suggestions over to the folks whose 80-plus years of experience, strength, and hope have proven quite helpful and near prescient to addressing this matter.
(And take notice that these are suggestions to stay not just sober, but joyous as well, because joy is possible — and often probable — in A.A. recovery.)
AA Twelve Tips on Keeping Your Holiday Season Sober and Joyous
1. Line up extra AA activities for the holiday season
Arrange to take newcomers to meetings, answer the phones on the Hotline, or go to a meeting in a treatment center or correctional facility.
2. Be host to AA friends, especially newcomers
If you don’t have a place where you can have people over, take one person out for lunch or coffee
3. Keep your AA phone list with you at all times
If a drinking urge or panic comes, postpone everything else until you’ve called your sponsor or an AA member
4. Find out about the special holiday parties, meetings, or other
celebrations given by groups in your area, and go.
If you’re timid, take someone newer than you are.
5. Skip all drinking occasions you are nervous about.
Remember how clever you were at excuses when drinking? Now you can put that talent to good use. No office party is as important as saving your life.
6. If you have to go to a drinking party and can’t take an AA friend with you, keep some candy handy.
7. You don’t have to stay late.
Plan in advance an “important date” you have to keep, and leave early.
8. Go to church. Any church.
9. Do you find that you’re sitting around brooding?
Catch up on those books, museums, walks, or call an old friend.
10. If you find yourself getting worked up about all those holiday temptations, Remember – “One Day at a Time”.
11. Enjoy the true beauty of holiday love and joy.
Maybe you can’t give material gifts — but this year, you can give love.
12. “Having had a spiritual awakening as a .....”
No need to spell out the Twelfth Step here, since you already know it!
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