Day 25

In the appendices of the Big Book on page 569, the 2nd paragraph talks about the “herd instinct” and how the power of religion and fellowship can do more than medicine for an alcoholic. T. won’t see me right now because she can’t help me. The addiction counselor can hopefully help guide me in fighting the alcohol addiction, and a psychiatrist could surely give me medicine for the physical side effects. And yet, I get the most from sitting in a room of complete strangers that have the same issue I have. I feel connected, understood, and accepted in this herd. By the end of any given meeting, you know the names of many who have spoken. These stranges will consider you one of them and offer you their telephone number just in case you feel you can’t do this on your own on any given day. These strangers become a family and support system for you on the first day. That is what I like about AA.
There is no talk of our politic views or affiliations. Many of us would never have talked on the outside. We come from different occupations, religions, social circles, and even socio-economical backgrounds. All of us have one thing in common, the desire to stop drinking. That bond is so forceful that it dominates all things and we become a herd. This is synergy in the purest form. Without this mentality, without this feeling of connection and something greater than ourselves selves we would not succeed.