October 17 – Big Book Trivia
“Remember: the way you see others is often the way you still need to see yourself with love.” — Louise Hay, You Can Heal Your Life
There’s this guy at my morning meeting who used to make my skin crawl. Every share was like a lightning round of Big Book quotes, and I’d sit there thinking, Man, this dude doesn’t even get it. I’d cross my arms and silently play AA police, ready to write him up for missing the point.
Then I heard my sponsor’s voice in my head: “Maybe that’s how he learned to stay sober — he teaches the way he learns.” Boom. Pride check.
That’s the trick with Step Ten — ego doesn’t announce itself; it slides in through self-righteousness. I didn’t need to correct him. I just needed to admit I was the one off-center. Once I dropped the judgment, something weird happened — I started listening again. He didn’t change. I did.
How do you handle it when someone’s version of recovery rubs you the wrong way — can you let them have their way without making it mean yours is better?
