"There you will find release from care, boredom, and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead. Among the future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous you will make lifelong friends. You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey. Then you will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and rediscover life. You will learn the full meaning of 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.'"
At the conclusion of many meetings we read The Promises even though they sound so optimistic as to be implausible to a still wet behind the ears alcoholic. It's worth pointing out here that the texts are full of Promises. I like the above passage from the chapter "A Vision For You." Pretty good vision. Pretty good phrases, too, like "lifelong friends" and "wonderful ties" and especially "most satisfactory years of your existence." Like most people I just assumed my life would be over once I deprived myself of drugs and alcohol. I love the word "glum." I thought I would be glum. Then I read "We are not a glum lot" and thought how odd it was that someone used the word "glum" to describe an emotional state. Look at how it's spelled. Say it over and over again until it sounds stupid in your ears, until Semantic Satiation takes over and it doesn't even sound like a real word again. Say it until you think "what the fuck is this guy talking about anyway, I thought we were discussing Promises?"
See? See how fun this is? See how this fits right into the concept of a most satisfactory life? That I'm able to waste some time writing this crap and that I find it most satisfactory?
Glum: Sullen or gloomy; dejected; morose.
No comments:
Post a Comment