Page 195 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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180 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
me a few drinks that night, and one bottle of beer the
next morning.
That was June 10, 1935, and that was my last drink.
As I write, nearly four years have passed.
The question which might naturally come into your
mind would be: “What did the man do or say that was
different from what others had done or said?” It must
be remembered that I had read a great deal and talked
to everyone who knew, or thought they knew anything
about the subject of alcoholism. But this was a man
who had experienced many years of frightful drink­
ing, who had had most all the drunkard’s experiences
known to man, but who had been cured by the very
means I had been trying to employ, that is to say the
spiritual approach. He gave me information about
the subject of alcoholism which was undoubtedly
helpful. Of far more importance was the fact that he
was the first living human with whom I had ever
talked, who knew what he was talking about in regard to
alcoholism from actual experience. In other words,
he talked my language. He knew all the answers, and
certainly not because he had picked them up in his
reading.
It is a most wonderful blessing to be relieved of the
terrible curse with which I was afflicted. My health is
good and I have regained my self-respect and the re­
spect of my colleagues. My home life is ideal and my
business is as good as can be expected in these un­
certain times.
I spend a great deal of time passing on what I
learned to others who want and need it badly. I do it
for four reasons: