Denise shares her Experience, Strength and Hope as she outlines the many ways in which the program of Alcoholics Anonymous has saved her life. We come to the rooms to stop drinking and if we stick around, we are blessed with the gifts of sobriety: serenity, love, peace, and in Denise’s case . . . the path to living her purpose.

Though Denise is headed for her 18th sobriety birthday, she spent 8 of those years outside the rooms as a "dry drunk." She believes more harm was done during those years than in her drinking days, leading her ultimately, and dangerously, close to suicide. 

For anyone curious about sobriety or the AA promises, this is a story for you. 

Quotes
“You’re so far into it, that you can’t even see how sick you are.”

On her first AA Meeting:
“ . . . it’s at the beach, and it’s beautiful, but I am judgmental: what am I doing here? Why am I here? . . . and I have to say . . . I haven’t drank since . . . and that was 17 years ago.”

“I am a very, very grateful alcoholic, I love AA and I owe my life.”

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Seija shares her Experience, Strength and Hope as she approaches a 20-year sobriety birthday—though this isn’t her first stretch of sobriety in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. 

At 5 yrs old, Seija and her twin sister were adopted and brought to the United States, and in less than 10 yrs was blackout drinking and homeless. Somewhere along a painful childhood Seija began cutting, and as a young adult, attempted suicide 4x in a few short weeks. This all sounds terribly sad, except if you hold out for Seija’s entire story, you get to journey to the beautiful life she has today, where there is serenity, peace and love abound. No doubt, Seija gets vulnerable here, and absolutely no doubt, by doing so, Seija will help many others on their path to freedom. 

 Quotes
“I no longer could control my drinking, nor could I enjoy my drinking.” 

“ . . .  it was impossible, because I wasn’t willing, at all, to change.”

“I had a hard time with the spiritual aspect of this program . . . but all of those experiences, feelings and people came into my path when I was ready to accept it and do something about it.”

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Farrell shares his Experience, Strength and Hope during this deep share from the heart. The perfect story for any newcomer skeptical of this “culty AA” or “God thing,” and equally valuable for those in recovery seeking an example of someone doing the deal and working a strong program. 

Growing up overweight and gay, constantly conscious of his movements, Farrell hated himself; he had the morning dread of life at the young age of 9 yrs old. Always anxious and in constant fear, Farrell found much relief in alcohol, and eventually cocaine, and crack, and so on, almost to homelessness. But soon the day of freedom came when he reached out to the universe with complete surrender for help, and it was delivered. 

Quotes
“Every time I put alcohol in my body it sets off an immediate craving for more; and once that craving has kicked in, the only thing that will satisfy it is another drink, and another drink, and another drink. So, I’m obsessed with the next drink.”

“I was such a cynic about everything, and I’m not a joiner, I’m not . . . but Alcoholics Anonymous, I joined enthusiastically . . . and I let the people of AA nurture me back to health.”

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Jimmy shares his Experience, Strength and Hope. From the tender age of 5 yrs old, he longed to get into the liquor cabinet, though his first drink and hangover weren’t for 5 more years. So at 10 yrs old, Jimmy made a promise to get better at this drinking thing. Fast forward to heroin, alcohol, hepatitis and treatment 3x, and then to Jimmy's powerful spiritual experience, which he refers to as the moment he received “the gift of surrender.” 

Extras: Jimmy wanted more than to just be sober, he wanted a healthy body; unlike any other episode, here we learn about another level of healing. Jimmy discusses holistic therapies, exercise, healthy eating, and others things that facilitate the body's natural process of healing.

 Quotes
“I always had a drink in my hand.”

“You don’t have to use, you don’t have to drink, from this moment on . . . it’s a tough sell this recovery thing, because at times it introduces us to pain; we take away our pain killers and we live life, and sometimes it’s painful . . . if it gets scary, just keep going."

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Richie shares his Experience, Strength and Hope. From gambling, to drugs to alcohol and back again, Richie describes the painful cycle of addiction; losing money during the week and drowning himself with alcohol on the weekends, round and around. Never feeling as though he belonged, constantly needing to escape from his emotions, and never being good enough, Richie struggled from the beginning, but has found hope, recovery and serenity in the 12 steps and its community.

Quotes
“I knew I had a problem, but I didn’t know how to change."

"My biggest gift from sobriety is being able to solve problems, rather than create them."

"If you’re doing it alone, you’re doing it wrong.”

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Alan shares his Experience, Strength and Hope; with over 2 decades of sobriety Alan’s humility and gratitude come through in this honest and vulnerable share. The program of Alcoholics Anonymous offers something that can’t be explained in words, only experienced, and Alan poetically describes this magic of the rooms throughout his story.  Navy, several DUIs, divorce, 4 years dry, all the way to 24+ years of sobriety and grandbabies; this is a true story of hope and recovery.

Quotes
“I did consider myself an alcoholic, I just didn’t want any part of sobriety.”

“I don’t have any explanation for what happened that day, other than it was a miracle. I was out of gas, I was at the end of my rope, I just didn’t know it, and God intervened . . . and people extended their hand and they said “welcome” and they meant it.”

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Cristina shares her Experience, Strength and Hope as she walks us through her journey of escaping herself to becoming someone she is proud of. Both a “yes girl” and “daredevil” Cristina shares many tales of poor choices, addiction and consequences, before she illustrates the beautiful recovery that is possible through the program and the 12 steps. Her life today is filled with joy, love and grace; miracles do happen.

Quotes
“I felt like if I didn’t bust out of there and go use, I was gonna die. I was going to use again, of course I was.”

“I drank and I used to feel the way that I feel in sobriety. I would not be sober today if it didn’t feel better than it did when I was back drinking and using.”

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Sara shares her Experience, Strength and Hope as she approaches a new life—recently divorced, with a new job, in a new state. Sara touches upon what it was like being raised in a large Catholic family, marrying young and tending to her ill husband. Throughout her share Sara discovers, yet again, what’s most important to her sobriety: her connection to God, her spirituality and her faith.

Quotes
“Alcohol had really turned into my best friend.”

"My prayer and my meditation is my drink today.”

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Mike shares his Experience, Strength and Hope by outlining the 12 steps while sharing what it was like drinking and using, how he came into the rooms and what it’s like now in sobriety. From a little boy huffing gas to escape, to a 20—something married man vomiting massive amounts of blood, to a 30—something eating Vicodin like candy, Mike goes deep with honesty and courage. This is a journey from pain, escape and suffering to freedom, serenity and joy. 

If nothing else, listen to hear the beautiful story Mike shares about his daughter—and his ability to be there, sober, while she fought her way to recovery. He is one hell of a father, no doubt; any parent struggling with a child in active addiction, should hear this story.

Quotes
"I know I wanted to stop, but I wasn’t willing to get sober.” 
 
"My life did not change until I got to Alcoholics Anonymous, so I’m clear on what’s changed my life.”

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Jeff shares his Experience, Strength and Hope as he approaches the 1-year anniversary of his mother's death. Jeff shares his walk through Alcoholics Anonymous; this is his third and longest stint of sobriety. Bartending during sobriety, buying alcohol for his dying mother and having to drink before he attended morning meetings as he weaned off alcohol -- Jeff's story will keep you captivated and makes clear that this program works, when you work it.

Quotes
"I could not see myself living this way, I couldn't drink more, I couldn't drink less; I was a shell of a person." 

"Life was getting in the way of my drinking, my body was shutting down."

"AA has allowed me to be in the moment, and that's all we have." 

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