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Service Work

Service work is a cornerstone of the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery process, representing the critical transition from self-centeredness to a life of purpose and altruism. In these speaker tapes, service is presented not merely as a set of chores, but as a spiritual praxis essential for maintaining long-term sobriety. The core principles center on the shift from the pursuit of material accumulation to finding peace through the shared experience of the fellowship. Listeners will encounter a spectrum of service, from the humble beginnings of mopping floors and passing the basket to the complex governance of the 12 Traditions. A recurring theme is the necessity of humility and the adherence to a group conscience, ensuring that principles always trump personalities to preserve the structural integrity of the collective. Through these personal accounts, listeners can expect to hear how service acts as a mirror to the alcoholic's previous isolation. Whether it is guiding newcomers or upholding the sanctity of anonymity, these narratives illustrate that the act of helping another alcoholic is often the very medicine required for one's own survival. These tapes emphasize that the miracle of recovery is not a single event, but is found in the continuous, disciplined work of showing up for others, effectively transforming a life of wreckage into a life of utility.

280 tapes

Top Speakers in This Category

Billy N. 20 Local AA Speakers 13 Sandy B. 9 Bob D. 4 Earl H. 4 Russell S. 4 Bill L. 3 Bob O. 3 DeAndre M. 3 Jimmy A. 3 John C. 3 Polly P. 3 Tim M. 3 Tom I. 3 Adam T. 2

All Tapes

John H.
$640 in Freud and Jung and Not One Page Could Keep Me Sober – John H.
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Sybil C.
You Might as Well Try to Incorporate a Sunset — California AA Before the Traditions Existed – Sybil C.
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Jimmy T.
Our Family Crest Features a Wine Bottle and a Pair of Handcuffs 🤣 – Jimmy T.
★★★★★No ratings
Sandy W.
Thirteen Years Sober and Planning to Jump Off the Building Before My Sponsor Said Get Professional Help – Sandy W.
★★★★★No ratings
Greg C.
Sober at Twenty-Two — the Old-Timers in That Basement Taught Me Checkbooks, Amends, and How to Grow Up – Greg C.
★★★★★No ratings
Terry S.
Worked Steps Six and Seven Until the Tough Guy From Michigan Could Finally Open His Heart
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Todd N.
Even Higher Power Can’t Drive a Parked Car — Thirty Years of Maintenance Sobriety and the Shovel That Changed Everything – Todd N.
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David J.
353 Cassette Tapes and Ramen Noodles — What Carrying the Message Looked Like in Year One – David J.
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Scott H.
$26 a Night in Cuba Included Breakfast, Dinner, and a Bottle of Rum — I Didn’t Get the Rum for Some Reason 😅 – Scott H.
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Madeline P.
Physically Drunk but Never Mentally Drunk — Where an Alcoholic Woman Stops Being Able to Protect Herself – Madeline P.
★★★★★No ratings
Nick
Told Charlie the Big Book Displays a Conspicuous Absence of Intelligence — Don’t Drink, Read It Again 😆 – Nick
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Steve F.
Prayed for Higher Power to Put Somebody Special in My Life and Got John — Guess I Should Have Been More Specific 🤦 – Steve F.
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Larry Scott
Desperation Has Wiggle Room — Hopelessness Is When Every Good Idea Has Already Failed – Larry S.
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Keith D.
Everything in My Life Had to Fail Me Before I’d Go to Higher Power — So Everything Did – Keith D.
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Scott H.
Scored 17 Out of 20 on the Addiction Test, Lied on Two, and the One Honest Answer Was Have You Ever Drank While Pregnant 🤣 – Scott H.
★★★★★No ratings
Mike S.
Contempt Prior to Investigation Is My Favorite Line in the Whole Book Because It Got Me Off My Butt – Mike S.
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Wesley P.
All You Need to Start a Group Is Two Resentments and a Dozen Donuts 🤣 – Wesley P.
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Tom I.
Step 10 Says Deal with It at Once Then Immediately Turn Your Attention to Someone You Can Help – Tom I.
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Dr. Bob
Bill Lived at Our House Three Months and We Talked Till Two Every Night — That’s How the Twelve Steps Got Written – Dr. B.
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DeAndre M.
Nothing Wrong with Freeing the Slaves but the Washingtonians Lost Their Singleness of Purpose and Everybody Died Drunk – DeAndre M.
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Liz M.
Ma’am I Came Here to Get Sober Not Celibate 🤣 – Liz M.
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Robbie S.
The Difference Between AA Activities and Real Spiritual Action in Steps 10, 11, and 12 – Robbie S.
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Rich P.
Getting Fired at Step 4: When I Stopped Trying to Manage My Recovery – Rich P.
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Ralph W.
Can I Just Drink Until I Need Glasses? – Ralph W.
★★★★★No ratings
Jeff P.
The People Who Quit Meetings and Stay Sober Aren’t Here to Tell Us – Jeff P.
★★★★★No ratings
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