“Sharon & Lorenzo H., Magnolia Wood, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021, 54 inches tall.
Price: NFS. In the collection of S & L H.
So who in the devil are Sharon and Lorenzo. Well, I'm not saying. Heck, that's not even their real names. I know them from a certain 12 Step meeting I attend regularly and I love them both a lot.
"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding use to place principles before personalities." as it says in the 12th Tradition. It was hip to be a member of a 12 Step fellowship back in the 1980's and 90's, at least in Tucson, Arizona and parts of California. Not anymore. There is a stigma now. That's to be expected I suppose, but I think I need to be mindful that not everyone is going to applaud that I'm a member of A.A. or C.A. Many people have been hurt by addiction and some people have be hurt by people saying they are working a program of recovery. It's sad but true.
Anywho, here's some more 12 Step ramblings from me.
There are many slogans and sayings in 12 Step groups, some I hate, many I like.
“One day at a time.”
I love that phrase. It’s not an original thought from the AA founders but it’s perhaps one of the most powerful and longest lasting.
“JDFD. JDFU. Just don’t fucking drink. Just don’t fucking use.”
Love it. This may be specific to Tucson 12 step but I’m not sure. We are cussing sons of guns in the Sonoran Desert.
“Think, think, think.”
Not a fav at all. I understand this is about thinking before you drink, but I’m a feelings guy. How I'm feeling is a more important question to ask that what I thinking, and isn’t obsessing and the obsession a good half of the problem? I’m not against knowledge, science and wisdom, but too much thinking and not enough feeling has gotten me and a lot of other people in trouble.
And then there are the musings from a guy I'll call Indiana Rob. Been listening to his words for decades.
“I know I have another relapse in me, but I don’t know if I have another recovery in me.”
So true and so sad. Many who leave recovery don’t make it back. Frankly, they die years before their time and hurt a lot of people along the way.
“In the past, I used God as a spiritual Valium.”
I hear you brother. I did that too. Classic Rob chestnut.
“You can’t make an alcoholic drink but you sure can make ‘em thirsty.” Testify, brother. You got that right.
This is just a couple of Indiana Rob's great shares from the past.
And then there was Nathan.
Nathan has been dead for decades but he was valuable member of AA in Tucson, Arizona. He died way too young from cancer but he was sober when he passed. Even these many years later, Nathan is still quoted, particularly this one statement:
“If beating ourselves up worked, we would all be well now.”
Rest in peace, Nathan. You mean a lot to many.
#stujenks, #extendedfamilyseries, #12stepstuff
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