Drunk-a-Log...

I've heard that some twelve-step groups back east don't allow newcomers to share until they have a year sober. I used to think the rule was kind of harsh. But after this morning’s meeting, I realize there are good reasons it's in place.

The topic today was "willingness.” And a man with about 24 hours sobriety started speaking, speaking, and speaking some more. He took everyone in the room on a very uninteresting ten minute drunk and drug-a-log that had little to do with anything on this planet. And it definitely had nothing to do with recovery – unless one used his story as an example of what not to do. In deference to the topic, he every so often would toss in the word “willing.”

Finally, when it appeared he was unable to find the end of his story, the chairperson told him to wind it up. There were other people who wanted to speak.

And reluctantly, after some hesitation, he gave up the floor.

Because the meeting I attended is made up of mostly newcomers, it would be hard to keep them from sharing for a year. If we did, the meeting would only last ten or fifteen minutes.

So probably the solution is for the chairperson to announce a three to four minute limit on sharing.

Having said all this, I believe newcomers should share. Though not about recovery, of which they know little.

But in their allotted two or three minutes they could let the rest of the group know that drinking still doesn't work for us alcoholics.