Why He’d Rather Be Stupid Than Too Smart to Get Sober – Cecil C.

About This Speaker Tape

1950, Saskatchewan. Cecil C. stands on a street corner with nothing left; his wife has taken the girls and his partner has gutted the business. He describes a life of running—from home to the army, from the army to the Navy, and from the Navy to the bottom of a bottle. He recalls the wreckage of a man who thought he was "really living" while sailing the world as a gunner, only to end up as a "fighter" who lost seventeen straight knockouts.

After a brutal beating left him black and blue in a hospital bed, Cecil was introduced to the program. He admits he stayed sober for years on "pats on the back" and the ego of being the youngest member, until he became a "hole in a donut" when newer members arrived. He realized he had an unmanageable life—not just with booze, but with a "tremendous ego" and debts paid one "telephone pole" at a time. He claims he was "stupid enough" to actually do the steps, trading his pride for a Higher Power.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Introduction and the 'prestige' of speaking in Texas.
• 4:15 Laughter: The story of the parrot and the plumber.
• 12:30 Recounting his time in the Army and Navy, and the 'Cease fire' joke.
• 18:45 The turning point in 1950: losing his business and his family.
• 22:10 First meeting experience: hearing how to drink, but not how to stay sober.
• 26:40 The fight that led to the hospital and the introduction to the 12 Steps.
• 33:15 Discussion on the 'middle member' problem and the void of superficial fellowship.
• 38:20 Step 1: Addressing the unmanageability of money and the 'telephone pole' approach.
• 45:10 Step 4 and 5: The importance of writing the inventory and the 'hill' metaphor.
• 52:00 Step 6 and 7: Learning humility and the story of the boots under the bed.
• 58:15 Step 9: The three-dollar amend for a stolen case of beer.
• 1:12:00 Step 11 and 12: Spiritual awakening and the 'personality change' of caring for others.