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With a little over two years sober, Ryan’s story is especially compelling for those AA members who are newly or recently sober. It is a story with which many will identify. His father was an alcoholic and seldom home, and Ryan and his brother were raised mostly by his mother. The rageful behavior inflicted on Ryan by his dad during his formative years abruptly stopped upon his father’s suicide when Ryan was in middle school. Seeking solace and support from the Catholic church in which he’d grown up, Ryan’s tragedy elicited no sympathy from the largely indifferent priest, who missed the opportunity to help a grieving adolescent. Marred by that event, Ryan’s religious and spiritual life was fractured, and became one of reckless abandon.
Ramping up his drinking and pot smoking after his father’s death, Ryan’s life was one of alcoholic and drug addled chaos for decades to come, with the associated wreckage of relationships and careers. As his life was caving in around him, his wife started attending Al-anon, a clear signal to Ryan that he’d likely lose the marriage, along with everything else if he didn’t get sober. He chose AA recovery and has never looked back. He ensconced himself in the middle of the Program, actively working the Steps, attending meetings, having a spiritual awakening and working with others. Personally, it’s been a joy to watch Ryan’s progress over the past couple of years.
I believe Ryan’s story will resonate with listeners on many levels. Especially for those in young sobriety, his simple and straightforward approach to AA will be both instructive and encouraging. For those listeners with more time in AA, Ryan’s story is sure to trigger reminiscences of early sobriety.
So relax and settle in for this episode of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother, Ryan D.
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 testimonials 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 Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.
I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.
[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.]