Walking, Talking Examples

Example: Something selected to show the nature or character of the rest; single part or unit used as a sample; typical instance.

If you tell an alcoholic what to do, he won't do it. He could be sitting in front of you with his hair on fire and still ignore all of your advice. You can hand him a fire extinguisher or a bag of fire retardant; you can explain the dangers of third degree burns on the scalp; you can provide a veritable library of books, magazines, and CD-ROMS showing how most people have taken a stand against allowing burning hair which is attached to the living human head to continue burning, and he will just set his jaw and shake his head: No. We don't trust people, we don't like people, and we aren't going to let anyone tell us what to do.


The Program teaches by example. Suspicious alcoholics lurk in the shadows in the last row, shrouded in mist and fog, and watch the proceedings. We have totally given up on laying down the law to these fog dwellers. We do what we need to do to stay sober personally and that's about it. If someone likes what they see they can ask about it. If they don't, no skin off our ass. No one has the corner on recovery. What works for me may not work for someone else.

My sole purpose in life may be to serve as a warning for someone else.