Transformations
Foremost in recent discussions about the structure of worldwide service in ACA have been questions that ask, “The Annual Business Conference (ABC), in all its facets, (something that traditionally has been an activity/event/obligation of the World Service Organization...
Sous le maquillage
Je croyais naïvement au dicton populaire « Donner, c’est donner. Reprendre, c’est voler ». Mais j’ai découvert récemment qu’une somme rondelette, reçue en « cadeau » il y a 15 ans, était en réalité munie d’un « élastique de rappel ». Sous le maquillage, la belle...
Step Ten
Stay safe enough is a recovery goal. Before I experienced adverse conditions, I was an innocent child. Am I going to be restored to that state and condition again? Is it safe? “I don’t have an answer to that question, ‘are we going to become entirely free of the...
Drawing My Inner Family
Terrified inner baby:Born into domestic violence.Blindsided and shattered.He screams at full volume.No one hears his heart. Hypervigilant inner toddler:Hiding in a corner.Avoiding daddy-Monster.Trying to be invisible.Making himself silent.Making himself...
ACA Recovery
Hi, I am Jess, an ACA member.I have struggled with family addiction and dysfunction growing up as the youngest of three children. It has been an ongoing battle for me but certainly has taken all of my lifetime to find another path. It has been hard at times. I have...
Mistakes
"We also have great difficulty accepting mistakes as adults." BRB p.38It seemed like every life-pursuit I undertook involved "white-knuckling". I can look back at major accomplishments and remember thinking how I had no idea what I was doing at the time. Looking back...
Childhood Prayer
It was a bold experiment in my mind, perhaps an early inquiry into the workings of reality. Prayer mingled God with Santa Claus: if I prayed hard enough, I would get a beautiful dollhouse in my room. I cleared a space for it between my bed and the door. I was six or...
Strafe My Soul
To daddy-Monster: You can resentfully blame mebecause my existence – my birth –reminds you of your new dutyresulting from my illegitimate conception. Enraged, you can throw medown a flight of stairsbefore I can walk. You can pound your fists into meas I lie...
Community Of Spirit
In the silent sanctuary of a misty morninga lone juniper stands beyond our windowon the shoreline of Four Mile Pond Spring wraps her fog around burgeoning new needlesand the ancient silent stones who accompany herA robin bounds from a branch unto the silky, moist...
Pressure
The dream is becoming a realityRight before my very eyesWhat goes up can come downGravity is a strong forceAt times, weighing me downNever staying downRising up to greater heightsDisbelief and humblenessSpiritually wokeNew visions and claritySo different from what...