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Sober since 2020, Kevin’s backstory of drinking belied his ultimate identification as an alcoholic who needed help from AA. Raised in a successful family where neither parent was an alcoholic, various ancestors had suffered from the disease, though a few had gotten sober in AA. As alcoholism appeared to skip a generation, Kevin had managed his drinking to achieve a successful business career and active social life, as well as marriage and four children, well into his 30’s. But the patience of the disease outlasted Kevin’s growing use and then abuse of alcohol. Toward the end, drunken behavior and negative consequences rapidly appeared in his life, threatening his job, marriage, and physical health. By the time he asked his parents for help, his attempts to quit drinking on his own had failed miserably and culminated with admission to inpatient treatment. And though Keven often chose not to attend optional AA meetings offered by the treatment center, his exposure to the Program was enough to lead him to the doors of AA when he was finally willing to throw in the towel. That was over 3 years ago from the date of this podcast and Kevin is still sober. He got a sponsor, worked the steps, and did what AA suggests to build a solid foundation for sobriety. Kevin regularly attends meetings, sponsors other men, and clings to the inner-most regions of the Program. That his marriage and career survived is yet another one of those miracles that occur whenever sincere and active work is done in AA.
If you’re in early AA recovery, I feel you’ll gain much from Kevin’s message of hope. For those listeners with longer-term sobriety, his story provides a great pause to reflect on your own experiences in the early years of your membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. Irrespective of where you are in your own recovery, you are sure to enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA brother Kevin S.
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 Paperback from 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.]