Less Is More

I have been sober for over nine years, and involved in general service for almost five. I got involved because my service sponsor has what I want; he's a good-natured, sober alcoholic, who seems to like himself, and he's enthusiastic about general service. His enthusiasm, and my unwillingness to admit defeat, have kept me coming back. At my first district meeting I suggested that each of us should be required to have an Al-Anon home group; an idea which was not met with enthusiasm. I have also been known to refer to general service as "Dr. Bob's Nightmare"--noting the description in AA Comes of Age of Dr. Bob's famous injunction to Bill at their last meeting (which, by the way, was where Bill got Dr. Bob's consent for the General Service Conference): "Remember, Bill, let's not louse this thing up. Let's keep it simple!" After several months of this, I finally asked my service sponsor to elbow me if it looked like I was going to say something, since I seemed to embarrass myself almost every time I opened my mouth. He may have been the first one who reminded me that a closed mouth gathers no feet!