A Life I Didn’t Know I Wanted
February 2025
| Longtimers
By:
Martin D.
| Bend, Oregon
Because of a gravel-voiced detox nurse in 1975, he gets to explore this wide wonderful world sober, with joy
Batten Down the Hatches
September 2020
| Living Sober Group
By:
Jordan W.
| Lemoore, Calif.
He used to outdrink all of his buddies. Now he gladly goes to AA meetings wherever he’s deployed
The Conference Process
April 2026
| Getting into General Service
By:
Anonymous
| The Village, Florida
A member in Florida shares their thoughts about how the Conference works and the best way to use it
Kicking It Into the Future
October 2025
| AA & Technology
By:
Deanna S.
| Roswell, Georgia
For this active women’s group in Georgia, tech is the way to go. They say if they can do it, anyone can
More Than Not Drinking
Web Exclusives
| Grapevine Online Exclusives
By:
Alex P.
| New York City, New York
Being grateful for the gift of desperation
What’s in a number?
April 2022
| What's On Your Mind?
By:
Gail V.
| Burlington, Ontario
Do we sometimes put too much importance on the amount of sober time we have?
800 miles away
December 2021
| Remote Communities & Sober Holidays
By:
Barbara B.
| Binford, N.D.
Thanks to technology and quick thinking, an isolated alcoholic gets “rescued” by her group back in Colorado
My Rock Bottom
Web Exclusives
| Grapevine Online Exclusives
By:
Luiza M.
| Fargo, N.D
A rough life and a hard recovery checkered with relapses—but she hung in there and has found the Promises coming true
Mission accomplished
February 2021
| Sponsorship
By:
John Mc.
| Nashville, Tenn.
A trip to help a sick sponsee becomes a powerful reminder of the message and love we get to pass on
He was our friend
April 2019
| Relapse
By:
Anonymous
| Georgia
A member recalls a man who could not stop drinking, until the very end of his life
My Private Hell
July 2018
By:
Michelle R.
| Winter Garden, Fla.
She couldn’t figure out how anyone could be a “grateful” recovering alcoholic. After her second Fourth Step, she understood….
When All Is Said And Done
November 2017
| Issue Title Here
By:
Karen E.
| Puyallup, Wash.
A powerful message of gratitude from one AA who has found her true home
A Redirected Life
August 2015
By:
Emmitt P.
| McDonough, Ga.
Unable to work because of an alcohol-related illness when he came to AA, sobriety enabled him to build a new career
On the Way to Work
July 2015
By:
Susan M.
| Columbus, Ohio
She didn’t know yet that day was going to be different from all the others
Lights Out
June 2011
By:
Paul McQ.
| Long Beach, New York
Even without electricity, a struggling alcoholic plugs in to a group’s sober energy
Chill Wind Of the Soul
July 2003
By:
Hank M.
| Winston-Salem, North Carolina
He thought he was the only one who felt so empty and alone
Stop the Presses!
May 1999
By:
Stacey C.
| Plymouth, Indiana
This Sober Newspaper Writer Ended Up In Jail After An Ill-fated Encounter With Pain Pills.
The Trouble with Mother
May 1971
By:
G. C.
| Boulder, Colorado
Sometimes you can't please her, no matter how hard you try
A Gripe: How Many Do We Drive Away?
February 1965
By:
K. F.
| Port Jervis, New York
Another in the Grapevine Sponsorship Series--This one decries a few fond shibboleths
A Patchwork Quilt
July 1961
By:
P. W.
| Jackson Heights, New York
AA is the foundation piece in this serenity building pattern
A Little Faith
February 2025
| Longtimers
By:
Patrick M.
| College Park, Maryland
Because of his religious childhood, he had a hard time with Step Two—until he found that all he needed was willingness
Back to Life
May 2020
| Getting Into General Service
By:
David R.
| Lawrence, Kan.
With a lot of action and a bunch of hotdogs, members in Kansas bring a district alive again
Sober with no god
October 2016
How a nonbeliever got active, found his place in AA and has stayed sober for 26 years
My Answer for Grandma
July 2015
By:
Wayne R.
| Middletown, Md.
As he slid deeper into his disease, someone he loved kept asking questions. Then one day he knew what to tell her
Layers of his Life
April 2013
By:
James L.
| Pegram, Tennessee
The Big Book helped him peel back memories that were sweeter than he had remembered