A Simple Solution

As an individual, my primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. As a group, our primary purpose is to help the alcoholic who still suffers. This is pretty simple stuff, isn't it? But is it too simple? At meetings recently I have sensed something else going on. I couldn't quite put my finger on it until I heard one member say to another, "Yeah, I really liked that validation that we did last night." I immediately had a sick feeling in my stomach and was glad that I had missed the meeting where everyone "validated" each other. If that had happened at my first meeting, you wouldn't be reading this now. I'd either be drunk or dead.