Step 1 – Twelve Step Workshop – Part 1 of 4 – 2002 – Bob O.

About This Speaker Tape

Twelve Step Workshop - 2002

A literalist from the Happy Way Group in Englewood Colorado Bob O. argues that sobriety is a continuous process of throwing oneself at the feet of a Higher Power. He rejects 'poetic license' and the dilution of the program insisting that the Big Book must be followed precisely to avoid the traps of the ego. Bob O. describes the 'gift of desperation' as the only way a person truly surrenders and warns against the 'happy drugs' of modern psychiatry that can numb the desperation necessary for recovery. He shares a personal battle with adult-onset diabetes where he credits a Higher Power for telling him to 'get off your a**' and find his own answers in a book rather than relying on lethal doses of medication. His approach is gritty and uncompromising viewing the recovery process as an inexorable force that either transforms a person or leaves them as a 'BSer' in the room.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:45 Bob O. discusses his practice of going through the steps once a year.
• 2:15 Laughter: Bob O. describes himself as an 'old coat' while inviting audience questions.
• 4:30 Bob O. emphasizes the main purpose of the Big Book: to show others precisely how to recover.
• 7:10 Discussion on Step 1 and the necessity of smashing the delusion of being like other people.
• 10:20 Kim shares her experience with desperation and being 'beyond human aid'.
• 13:45 Bob O. discusses the 'gift of desperation' and the need to be sick and tired of oneself.
• 18:10 Bob O. talks about the 'shock troops' of a Higher Power's army and the courage to stand for something.
• 22:30 Discussion on how to handle psychiatric medications and the 'common solution' in home groups.
• 26:40 Bob O. recounts his health crisis with diabetes and the intuitive message to get out of bed.
• 31:15 Linda shares her experience with untreated alcoholism and the confusion between AA and NA.
• 35:50 Bob O. discusses the 'acid test' of the steps to determine if someone is truly an alcoholic.
• 39:10 Bob O. recounts a confrontation with a 30-year old-timer in New Jersey who disagreed with the step-work.