Incredibly, Tom hadn't had a drink in over nine years when he joined AA. He was "dry", but his behavior during those years was every bit as alcoholic as if he’d been drinking the whole time. Growing up in a very dysfunctional home, Tom’s early life was fraught with daily fear, shame, and lack of direction. His years in the army during the Viet Nam war and his early business career were soaked in alcohol and abhorrent behavior. By the time he was married and had two young children, Tom’s bitter and self-righteous temperment had recreated the same kind of toxic environment in which he’d grown up. As Tom’s burgeoning alcoholism was fracturing his marriage and family, he somehow managed stopped drinking. However, his dry years provided little relief from the madness. He found himself living on a miserable decline in mind, body, and spirit. The suggestion that he join AA, despite being dry, finally struck a responsive chord in his otherwise demoralized life and he started to attend meetings. Tom’s tenuous hold on the Program eventually became a tighter grip on all of the tenets necessary to live an AA-enriched life, including regular meetings, prayer and meditation, and unceasing service work.

Tom has always stated his sobriety date as the day he entered AA, rather than the date he stopped drinking. This important difference between simply being dry and staying sober in AA has been well-demonstrated by Tom over the years. I’ve personally heard him share those differences with newcomers in countless meetings we’ve attended. His is an important message that needs reemphasis whenever alcoholics consider just getting dry in lieu of getting sober.

The many gifts in Tom’s life since sobriety are proof-positive of the power of a spiritually-centered and active Program. As you listen to his story on today’s AA Recovery Interviews podcast, I believe you’ll be moved to truly appreciate what a life of sobriety looks like compared to a life of just staying dry. So, please relax and enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my dear friend and AA brother, Tom W. If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series, have a listen to “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon. I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio. [Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]