Diversity

Diverse: Different; dissimilar; varied; diversified.

One of the true strengths of The Fellowship revolves around the fact that we are such a diverse group of individuals. We are people who wouldn't ordinarily mix. As is the case so often in recovery, this is one of the great curses as well. We look around the room and think: "These are the people who are going to help me recover from a chronic, progressive, and potentially life-threatening disease? My choices are death, insanity, or a lifetime spent with these people? Man, I'm in a lot of trouble."

I spent my drinking years trying to surround myself with other hip, slick, and cool people. I was beyond cool. I was magnetic, electric, and profound. Police stuck to me and women bounced off. Everyone else treated me like a dart board. Still, I refused to sink so low as to associate with the vast legions of the UnCool.

In the Fellowship I get to meet folks of all different shapes, sizes, and flavors. It has helped me consider so many things from new and different perspectives. Perspectives that I may not agree with initially. Some of the older members have already walked through situations that are causing me so much angst -- they show me that age is no barrier to a happy, vibrant life. And what a blessing it is to be able to pass along my experience, strength, and hope to someone younger. No one was asking my advice when I was drinking.

I have many fathers in The Program and many sons.

We have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that there is a solution. The bad news is that it's us.