John K. from Primary Purpose Group in Dallas, TX speaking at the SW Kansas AA Conference in Dodge City, KS - January 2008

Visit our website - Sober-Sunrise.com

John shares his story of going from a straight-A, gifted athlete with everything on paper, to a hopeless alcoholic who cycled through jobs, relationships, treatment centers, and blackouts until Labor Day 1999, when he finally surrendered and found a sponsor who laid out the truth of the Big Book. He explains in his own words how Step 1 hit him when he saw he couldn’t not drink, Step 2 gave him hope that what worked for others might work for him, and Step 3 became real on his knees with a simple prayer asking God for willingness. He describes Step 4–5 as uncovering the “ugly truth” of selfishness and damage done, Steps 6–7 as the hard willingness to let go of those defects, and Steps 8–9 as making amends wherever possible. For him, Step 10 is daily action, Step 11 keeps him grounded in prayer and conscious contact, and Step 12 is not “work” but joy—helping other drunks, taking calls, driving guys to meetings, and carrying the message with urgency. Today he lives with purpose, sponsors “hard cases,” has restored family relationships, is engaged, and even brought his non-alcoholic mother into Big Book study. His message: gratitude is shown not by words but by action—staying close to God, thumping the Big Book, and helping the next alcoholic.

Music: Deep by KaizanBlu