Hello and welcome to Sobercast, where we provide A.A. Speaker meetings and workshops in podcast format.

We're an ad-free podcast, and if you enjoy listening, please help us be self-supporting by visiting Sobercast.com, look for the donate, and drop a dollar or two into our virtual basket.

We hope you enjoyed the podcast. Have a great day.

I was taught when telling a story or telling my story, I tell you what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now.

And that's the message that I try and carry, and that's why I

keep sharing common with all of you. I'll tell you that today, I'm back in society as promised in

the big book. I have a regular life. I have a job. I have a car. I have insurance. I have all those things that a normal, ordinary person can have.

Life is grand. I have just something different than I did a little over eight years ago. And that's a matter of perspective.

And that's what you'll see as I tell you my story.

This story is not much different than anybody else, and I don't tell it to try and what I tell tonight.

I hope that it's not something to disqualify you from AA.

All of our stories are different. There's going to be some

common traits. And some people might feel, oh, I didn't do that, and I didn't have that in my life,

therefore I may not be an alcoholic. Well, that's not the point. You'll see what I'm talking about.

Additionally, while I am a strong proponent of the fifth tradition

that were the singularity of purpose, my story does include other substances, particularly cocaine,

but I will tell you this, that there was always alcohol involved.

And whenever I went back to that depth, it was always started through alcohol.

And that was always part of my story.

Therefore, I am an alcoholic.

I started life fairly easily.

My father was in the military.

...