Beginning Alcoholics Anonymous. You Can Do This Even If You Failed Before.

By John Barleykorn

There is a solution. There is a systematic way to get sober and stay sober in a 12-Step program. You do not have to suffer anymore! After all, if you read the history of AA, it’s clear the founders felt they had uncovered a solution. In fact, there is a chapter in the book entitled, “There is a Solution.” And another one, “How it Works.”

These chapter titles express confidence - indeed they should. This program will give you power, a power that will crush your addiction.
Many who endeavor to find their sobriety in AA/NA struggle to get started. Read on to learn how to get begin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Barleykorn
• Release date: Feb 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005165550

John Barleykorn

John Barelykorn has worked as a probation/parole officer since 2003 and has been sober since 2001. Working with addicted offenders offers a lot of insight into the power of addiction.Prior to learning to navigate a 12-Step program, he relapsed for more than a decade. There is a way to get sober and stay sober. It's a battle. Learn how to fight it.

Book preview

Beginning Alcoholics Anonymous

You Can Do This Even If You Failed Before

JOHN BARLEYKORN

Do the thing you fear most, and the death of fear is certain.

-Mark Twain

Copyright © 2020 GILROY PUBLISHING

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

This is a publication of Gilroy Publishing and is not affiliated or associated or has not been endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Service, Inc. or the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Editor: Mollie A. Gill

Printed in the United States of America

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Preface

There is a solution. There is a systematic way to get sober and stay sober in a 12-Step program. You do not have to suffer anymore! After all, if you read the history of AA, it’s clear the founders felt they had uncovered a solution. In fact, there is a chapter in the book entitled, There is a Solution. And another one, How it Works. These chapter titles express confidence - indeed they should. This program will give you power, a power that will crush your addiction.

Many who endeavor to find their sobriety in AA/NA struggle to get started. Read on to learn how to get begin.

Chapter 1

No one brags about being accepted into AA. Your parents aren’t telling their friends at the country club or chronicling it in their Christmas letters.

Let’s be honest. Most don’t want to go to meetings. A lot of addicted people have gotten into the habit of doing only those things they want to do. These days people are looking for a shortcut. The goal of addiction is enslavement. If you hope to break free you need to fight back, and it starts with meetings. There are alternatives to AA, but nothing will give you the long-term sobriety and quality of life that participation in AA can offer. If you have been through multiple institutions of all sorts, but never went to AA or NA and did the steps, you really ought to consider it before you despair and give up.

Sometimes, like a lot of people in recovery, I try and help the next person. That’s what Alcoholics Anonymous is, one drunk helping another. When I’m trying to help someone, I am simply pointing them in the direction of a 12-Step program, perhaps driving them or arranging to meet. I can introduce them to people and maybe end up sponsoring someone, but ultimately, it’s up to them. You can be an example and share your story, but you can’t talk them into anything. Maybe sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to be able to persuade someone, like some trained-killer salesman. I once heard an old-timer say, If they’re ready, there’s nothing you can say that’s wrong, and if they’re not ready, there’s nothing you can say that’s right. I agree.

So when I’m trying to help someone, usually I’m simply suggesting they start going to meetings, a lot of meetings, but few do and there’s nothing much anyone can do about it, including a judge or parole officer. You can’t force anyone to do anything. Many are not fazed by incarceration. And, sadly, in the modern