In The Early Days

I'm often told that in the early days of recovery people need to focus on themselves. Go to meetings, find a sponsor, read the Big Book. These are good things to do, but that's not all!

Bill did none of these in his early days of recovery. Bob didn't do these things either, aside from co-sponsorship with Bill (meaning they sponsored each other). How did they stay sober in the early days of their recovery, when they didn't have even a week sober? They worked intensively with other alcoholics.

The great secret of how they stayed sober comes back to this:

"Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail." - Page 89, Alcoholics Anonymous

Yes, a spiritual awakening was necessary, but most of their experiences developed "slowly over a period of time" (Appendix II). Waiting around for the "miracle to happen" wasn't an option for them if they wanted to stay sober. They had to engage in "strenuous", "intensive" work with other alcoholics.

"It is much more than a sense of duty, however, which provides the requisite driving power and harmony so necessary for success. One powerful factor is that of self-preservation. These ex-alcoholics frequently find that unless they spend time helping others to health they cannot stay sober themselves. Strenuous, almost sacrificial work for other sufferers is often imperative in the early days of their recovery. This effort proceeds entirely on a good will basis. It is an avocation." - Dr. Silkworth (who wrote an entire section of the Big Book called "The Doctor's Opinion")

If not for working intensely with others, I'd not be sober today. If you're waiting around for someone to ask you to sponsor them, you're missing the point. There are endless people to work with if you seek them out. Start with your local intergroup. If you don't have a local intergroup, write me and I'll put you in touch with someone in your fellowship who will help you along.