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Joe and Charlie Part 6 – Recovered 1116

By: Mark S

November 6, 2020

You will see several references on this site to “Joe & Charlie”. Their names are sometimes heard at local Twelve Step meetings. So, who exactly are Joe and Charlie? They were two long-recovered alcoholics who traveled the world for several decades, sharing their insights into the Big Book of AA. Because all Twelve Step programs are derived from the AA Big Book, I suspect their recordings might help anyone in ANY Twelve Step program….not just AA.

The Big Book Study (officially called “The Big Book Comes Alive”) recordings are not conference-approved literature. Any sponsee interested in listening to the series should ask their sponsor first. I can recommend the talks with confidence because many long-sober speakers have openly given credit to Joe and Charlie with their own recovery. I have heard people say said they never really “got” how Twelve Step recovery works until they heard the free-wheeling and good-natured recordings of Joe P and Charlie McQ. I know that was true for me.

Step 9 – Recovered 1115

By: Mark S

November 4, 2020

Making amends may seem like a bitter pill to swallow, but for those serious about recovery, it can be good medicine for the spirit and the soul.

Step 9 is another one of the 12 steps that initially appears most difficult, but the rewards of putting this principle into practice can be immense. The spiritual principle involved is that of forgiveness, not only from others but forgiveness of self, which can bring healing to both parties.

Step 9
“Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”

Tonight, we talk about Step 9

Joe and Charlie Part 5 – Recovered 1114

By: Mark S

October 30, 2020

Step 8 – Recovered 1113

By: Mark S

October 28, 2020

Step 8
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

For the 12-step recovery member, this 8th step list usually begins with friends and family that have been harmed by a long and tumultuous using career. But as recovery continues, and the fog begins to lift, many others are usually added to the list as the process continues.

Like taking most of the 12 steps, this one is not necessarily a one-time event. It is a process that continues to unfold as more is revealed.

Tonight, we talk about Step 8

Joe and Charlie Part 4 – Recovered 1112

By: Mark S

October 23, 2020

Step 7 – Recovered 1111

By: Mark S

October 21, 2020

In Step Six we ready ourselves to have our shortcomings removed; a difficult, but necessary step towards recovery.

Step Seven is the perfect transition from the previous steps, wherein we took a moral inventory, shared it with our higher power and another human being and further readied ourselves for the final steps to a life of sobriety.

Step Seven
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Tonight, we talk about Step 7

Joe and Charlie Part 3 – Recovered 1110

By: Mark S

October 16, 2020

Step 6 – Recovered 1109

By: Mark S

October 14, 2020

Step Six of AA’s Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Step program of recovery is all about the removal of what doesn’t work in our lives anymore. Since you have completed Step Four and Five you surely have plenty of things that were revealed to you about what you need to get rid of!

So now it’s time to allow a Higher Power to cut out these attitudes, beliefs and behaviors at the source. You get to partner up with your Higher Power and make a firm decision to let go of the character defects and flaws that have been ruling your life and seem to have you hell bent on self destruction.

Tonight, we talk about Step 6

Joe and Charlie Part 2 – Recovered 1108

By: Mark S

October 9, 2020