Don H. on the Thinking Disease, Step 2, and Early Sobriety

About This Speaker Tape

Shimmy struggles with the crushing weight of early sobriety finding the inside of his head a 'dark and dangerous place' when he isn't buffered by the fellowship. After a near-miss at a liquor store he is intercepted by Gord G. a born-again Christian in recovery.

The encounter evolves into a raw impromptu meeting at Rob R.'s house where the conversation pivots from the religious friction of Step Two to the brutal reality of 'insanity.' Through Gord G.'s story of his children's terror upon his arrival home Shimmy is forced to confront the fact that he has become the boogeyman to his own family. The wreckage is no longer an abstract concept but a visceral mirror leading Shimmy to a moment of rare honest self-analysis and the realization that he cannot fix his life in a sprint but must take it one bite at a time.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Shimmy describes the 'dark and dangerous place' of his own mind when alone.
• 3:15 The close call: Shimmy stands outside a liquor store, contemplating 'blessed oblivion'.
• 6:40 Meeting Gord G.: The introduction of the 'friend of Bill W.' and the friction of the 'sidewalk preacher'.
• 11:20 Step 2 Discussion: Gord G. and Rob R. break down the difference between religious, spiritual, agnostic, and atheist approaches to a Higher Power.
• 15:45 Laughter: Rob R. pushes Shimmy's buttons to trigger a demonstration of his 'insanity'.
• 19:10 The turning point: Shimmy admits 'I have no idea' why he behaves the way he does, marking a hole in his wall of self-delusion.
• 23:30 Gord G.'s story: The visceral description of his children's terror when he walked through the door.
• 27:50 The epiphany: Shimmy realizes he is the boogeyman to his own children.
• 31:15 Closing advice: The metaphor of eating an elephant one bite at a time.