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bluidkiti · 08-22-2016, 08:07 AM

August 22

Quote of the Week

“You can’t save your face and your ass at the same time.”

After a meeting the other day, a newcomer with 71 days asked me to sign his court card. “How’s it going?” I asked him. He told me it was tough – his wife and kids and job were demanding, and all his friends were still drinking and using. He said he was just trying to hang on. I asked him how sobriety was going and he said he felt awkward in meetings – he didn’t really know what to share and was afraid of looking uncool or stupid, so he just didn’t say much. That’s when I told him that he couldn’t save his face and his ass at the same time.

When he asked me what exactly that meant, I told him my experience when I was new. When I got to the rooms I was quietly dying inside, but I was desperate for people to like me. I wanted to fit in, to say the right things and to be a part of. I was pretty sure that if I told you how I really felt: scared, ashamed, angry, that you wouldn’t want me there, so I smiled and just said I was fine. I was saving my face, but my ass was on fire and falling off.

When my sponsor directed me to start being honest, to share what was really going on, things immediately changed. First, you didn’t reject me; instead you opened up to me and let me know that you felt the same way, too. After opening up, I also felt great relief and my days starting going better. Most of all, though, I learned that it was O.K. to have feelings and that my feelings weren’t going to kill me – and they weren’t going to drive you away either. Suddenly I saw the wisdom in saving my ass first.

By doing that, I was able to discover my real face and found that it would be accepted for who I truly was.

08-22-2016, 08:07 AM	#22
bluidkiti Administrator Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 70,570	August 22 Quote of the Week “You can’t save your face and your ass at the same time.” After a meeting the other day, a newcomer with 71 days asked me to sign his court card. “How’s it going?” I asked him. He told me it was tough – his wife and kids and job were demanding, and all his friends were still drinking and using. He said he was just trying to hang on. I asked him how sobriety was going and he said he felt awkward in meetings – he didn’t really know what to share and was afraid of looking uncool or stupid, so he just didn’t say much. That’s when I told him that he couldn’t save his face and his ass at the same time. When he asked me what exactly that meant, I told him my experience when I was new. When I got to the rooms I was quietly dying inside, but I was desperate for people to like me. I wanted to fit in, to say the right things and to be a part of. I was pretty sure that if I told you how I really felt: scared, ashamed, angry, that you wouldn’t want me there, so I smiled and just said I was fine. I was saving my face, but my ass was on fire and falling off. When my sponsor directed me to start being honest, to share what was really going on, things immediately changed. First, you didn’t reject me; instead you opened up to me and let me know that you felt the same way, too. After opening up, I also felt great relief and my days starting going better. Most of all, though, I learned that it was O.K. to have feelings and that my feelings weren’t going to kill me – and they weren’t going to drive you away either. Suddenly I saw the wisdom in saving my ass first. By doing that, I was able to discover my real face and found that it would be accepted for who I truly was. __________________ "No matter what you have done up to this moment, you get 24 brand-new hours to spend every single day." --Brian Tracy AA gives us an opportunity to recreate ourselves, with God's help, one day at a time. --Rufus K. When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. --Franklin D. Roosevelt We stay sober and clean together - one day at a time! God says that each of us is worth loving.