Hi Brad,

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Hearing from people is giving me a lot to think about. I always say/think how lucky I was to get sober when I wasn't that far down the addiction slide (wheeee!) but I maybe haven't thought seriously enough about how messed up that is.

Or I thought about it a lot at the start, but then I got over it. But actually, it's really not good enough. AA is brilliant, but what about all the people who don't want to identify as alcoholic?

This is why I always signpost to other movements for sober living on all my articles. In the past I've also been judgemental of some of them, as it seems unethical to make money building on what AA has always given away for free.

If AA would just rewrite the Big Book, they would be my dream organization. I love the grassrootsiness, the weird vague spirituality you find in the UK meetings, and the anonymity principle, which has prevented it from imploding (though, which also gives it the culty vibe to 'outsiders'). And it's very affordable too. Plus all money gets invested back into the organisation.

On the other hand AA works for millions of people. So why not create something that works for millions that AA doesn't work for? I just wish people didn't charge so much for these things.

But you're so right. Saying, "I'm an alcoholic" can be the end of a journey when it really needs to be just the beginning. I never believed I was 'born alcoholic' (though it did pass down the family line). I drank because the world made me feel unwelcome!

Oh what a sensitive flower.

Thanks again, you made me think.

Chelsey