Bonnie C. – Spiritual Malady – The Spiritual Malady of Procrastination – 2014

About This Speaker Tape

ISNAC XIX - 2014

Bonnie C. maps out the friction between passion and apathy in service work. While she's been deeply involved in the fellowship since early recovery—sometimes even before she had 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 absolute last second. By contrasting these moments of procrastination with the travel and music she's now able to experience, she argues that recovery isn't about a perfect record, but about the progress of no longer putting off the life she once only dreamed of.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Opening applause and introductory remarks.
• 0:45 Bonnie discusses starting service work in treatment, sometimes before having a sponsor.
• 1:30 The danger of over-committing to service work and having no time for a life.
• 2:10 Laughter: Discussing the apathy and procrastination involved in the marathon meetings.
• 3:00 The habit of arriving five minutes late with last-minute supplies.
• 4:15 Bonnie reflects on the difference between progress and perfection.
• 5:00 Bonnie jokes about the only thing she's been perfect at is staying sober.
• 6:10 Comparing her current life and travel opportunities to the wreckage of her past.
• 7:00 Closing remarks and final applause.