Web Exclusive

The Heartbeat of AA

Asking for help and helping others was her lifeline in the program

By the time I was five years old, I had developed a lot of survival skills that worked at the time, but over the years, one by one, they failed. My survival kit included: self-sufficiency, people pleasing, stuffing my feelings, dishonesty, adrenaline, fight, flight, and of course, alcohol and drugs. I attended my first AA meeting at the age of 17. Twenty-six years later I checked myself into treatment. In the end, I did one thing right—I asked for help, by the grace of God.

When I was finally flattened by my choices, I tried something new—I reached out to the hands of AA that I... Login to read more
Not a subscriber? Click here to subscribe.

Related Items:

Sunset on the Ferris Wheel
The ups and downs of the drinking life finally came to an end

Letter from Prison
Finding himself locked up yet again, he admitted defeat in his battle with alcoholism

Lady Love
In sobriety, she learned to respect herself and how to build relationships

Staying for the Miracle
An old timer looks back upon her drinking life as she celebrates 34 years