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Kyle’s hard-fought battle with addiction and alcoholism was one he thought he could win on his own. He even managed to stay dry without AA for five years. But they were miserable years packed with trouble in every aspect of his life. So, back to drinking he went for ten more years, during which his disease rode him hard to the bottom. As his life swelled with problems and his options were dwindling, Kyle finally found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous three years ago. Though his period of continuous sobriety is relatively brief compared to double-digit sobriety, the “how it was” and the “what happened” parts of his story are every bit as powerful as those of AA members who have enjoyed decades of sobriety. For many of us, the recency of Kyle’s experience is a stark reminder that the disease is as brutal as ever, offering little respite to those who suffer. In Kyle’s case, a difficult childhood led into early drug and alcohol use. As alcoholism and addiction surfaced during is later teenage years, Kyle was placed in rehab as a high school junior, but it had little effect on the burgeoning disease that he resumed immediately after.
A hoped-for recovery in the U.S. Air Force largely failed as Kyle’s behavior and an alcoholic black-out during deployment caused more trouble. Once out of the service, he resumed his addictions, though, like many, he was still able to marry and have children and job despite his active disease. He even managed to stay dry for five years. But without a Program, he was mostly miserable along the way. By the time he got to AA, he’d been thoroughly beaten by the disease and ready to take “certain steps” toward recovery. Three years later, through working the steps with a sponsor, Kyle’s sobriety is demonstrated by his sponsorship of other men and his attendance at daily meetings. It’s a far cry from where he was when he got to AA, but he’s taking nothing for granted as his disease resides around every corner.
Kyle’s is a cautionary tale, instructive of many of the “do’s” and “don’ts” that are so prevalent in Alcoholics Anonymous. I think you will get a lot out of this interview and invite you to enjoy listening to this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Kyle G.
Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Follow us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testamonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in paperback from Amazon, if you’d like to read along with the audio.
[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]