Bonnie C. – Service – Progress Not Perfection In Service Work – 2014

About This Speaker Tape

Bonnie walks through the friction between passion and apathy in service work. While she's been deeply involved in the fellowship since early recovery—sometimes even before finding a sponsor—she admits to the specific drag of the 'marathon meetings' on the activities committee. She describes the mental tug-of-war of showing up but doing so with a reluctant heart, often arriving five minutes late with supplies bought at the last second.

Bonnie dismantles the myth of perfection, arguing that the only thing she's managed to do with 'perfect consistency' is stay sober. She contrasts this with the wreckage of her past, noting that the travel and music she experiences now were once distant dreams that felt impossible while she was using.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening applause and initial reflections on change.
• 0:55 Bonnie discusses starting service work in treatment, sometimes before having a sponsor.
• 1:45 The struggle with 'saying yes' to too many commitments and the need to curtail herself.
• 2:20 Laughter: Discussion of the apathy and procrastination involved in the marathon meetings.
• 3:10 The habit of arriving five minutes late with last-minute supplies.
• 4:00 Reflections on the difference between progress and perfection.
• 4:40 The admission that the only thing she's been perfect at is not picking up.
• 5:20 Comparing current life opportunities, travel, and music to the dreams of her past.
• 6:00 Closing remarks and final applause.