My favorite hobbies include reading and doing research; I am a nerd, and I admit it. I even love homework. While I've been in the program, I have done much research regarding the theories and philosophies of addiction and recovery. I've been reading anecdotes and other's recovery stories, as it inspires me to work my own program, and it reminds me that I am not alone.

One such anecdote was mentioned at a meeting last week. One of the members was sharing about an edition of the Big Book. She was talking about someone asking Bill W if there was anything he would want to change about the upcoming edition. Well, Bill said that in the chapter "How it works," he would have changed the word "rarely" to "never," in regards to "rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." 

I compare this to different, non 12-step recovery programs, and I see different recovery philosophies that do not include the 12 steps, claiming to cure addiction. Drugs and alcohol are but a symptom of the real problem of the alkie/addict. So even if someone is no longer drinking and/or drugging, they still will have the character defects that are the reality, the true problem of what we are as addicts and alcoholics.

For example, I can tell you honestly that if I had chosen a program that promised to cure my disease, I would have gone right back out to see if I could drink or drug like a normie. And that, my friends, is what I am not: a normie.