1. Freedom

Freedom

1.  FREEDOM   I know it must seem strange to draw a fly trapped inside a window screen. However, I know of no other way to tell you about my escape to freedom, unless you yourself have already experienced it for yourself. Let’s forget about the fly for a moment and come back to it…

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2. Past

Past

2. PAST   Promise 2 — “We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.”   I enjoyed creating this drawing, but I find myself having very little to say say about it. My image of a new clock hanging where a grand old clock resided for many years illustrates the…

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3. Comprehend

Comprehend

1.  FREEDOM   You don’t need to tell me…. I it seems strange to draw a fly trapped inside a window screen. But I know of no other way to tell you about my escape to freedom, unless you yourself have already experienced it for yourself. Let’s forget about the fly for a moment and…

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4. Peace

Peace

4. PEACE   Promise 4 – We will know peace.   The phrase “We will know peace” seems as simple as it can be. There are no complex words that might cause us to reach for a dictionary. Surely words have not changed in meaning very much since the Promise was written back in the…

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5. Scale

Scale

5. SCALE During my years in Twelve Step recovery, I have been a sponsor and I have been a sponsee (someone who receives sponsorship). This drawing is about both of those experiences, each from a different point of view.  First, I was a sponsee. I often felt I was drowning. Literally. My dreams and thoughts…

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6. Disappear

Disappear

6. DISAPPEAR   Every person in recovery is different; every person in recovery is the same. That is my conclusion after meeting, listening to, and reading about alcoholics and addicts in all stages of recovery. As a sponsor, it is satisfying to know exactly what my sponsees need—they need to work the Twelve Steps and…

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7. Interest

Interest

7.  INTEREST   Attending meetings involves spending time with one’s “fellows”….fellow alcoholics, fellow drug addicts, fellow behavioral addicts, etc. I have heard some claim sitting in a Twelve Step meeting (without working the Steps) will produce lasting sobriety. Personally, I doubt it will. After all, simply sitting in a bar does not produce an alcoholic;…

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8. Self-seeking

Self-seeking

8. SELF-SEEKING I did not notice it the first time I read the Big Book. However, I noticed later how many times words relating to “self” appear in that text. I see it dozens and dozens of times. Some count hundreds. I conclude it must be a fairly important piece of the puzzle of substance…

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9. Outlook

Outlook

9. OUTLOOK   Promise 9 – Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.   [NOTE: Please read the footnote. It gives important information about the inspiration for this drawing.*]   I attended Twelve Steps meetings for years without getting sober. We’re being honest here, right? That length of time was largely my fault; I…

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10. Fear

Freedom

10. FEAR   What is there to say about fear? Bill W. wrote on page 67 of the AA Big Book: “This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of…

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