I'm only an arms length away from a drink. SO WHAT?

Brian H. my spiritual advisor made a comment about this the other day reflecting my thoughts from a previous conversation that "technically" we are never an arms length away from a drink. Let's take a look at this.

O.K. so we've all heard this phrase at a meeting "you're only an arms length away from a drink" AND I want to ask now "just what the hell is your point in saying that?"

First let's imagine that we find ourselves an arms length away from a stick of dynamite, what is going to happen or what could happen?

Second, so what if say we are at a wedding, we turn around to say hello to a person who has just tapped us on the shoulder. When we twist back to the original position sitting and facing the table we notice a drink that wasn't there before. Maybe it's in front of us or maybe it's the proverbial "arms length away" - now what?

The DANGER behind that statement "you're only an arms length away from a drink " is that if or when we find ourselves in that situation- we're going to drink. It's not that cut and dried AND why go to the extreme consequence.

Most opinons given in A.A. are usually about the most drastic and devistating results that could occur.

So what if I'm an arms length away from a drink, are you implying, insinuating or even predicting that when I find myself in that situation I'm going to drink it?

Let's look at some events that occur as we go, walk through or work the steps;

1. The foreward of the 12 and 12 (A.A. Book) tells us this "the twelve steps are a group of principles, spiritual in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expell the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole."

2. 4th Step, Big Book about resentments- For when we harbor such feelings we shut ourselves of from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again."

3. Page 75, 4th editon Big Book- "The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly." (5th step)

4, 5th Step, Big Book- " if we skip this vital step we may not overcome drinking." (page 72)

5. Step 7, 12 and 12- "we reluctantly come to grips with those serious character flaws that made problem drinkers of us in the first place, flaws which must be dealt with to prevent a retreat into alcoholism once again." (step 7)

6. Step 9, Big book- "Simply we tell him that we will never get over drinking until we have done our utmost to straighten out the past." (page 77)


So, if we maintain our spiritual condition as we are reminded in Step 10 of the Big Book we have what is called a "daily reprieve" from alcohol. AND ON PAGE 85 THE FOUNDERS LEFT US WITH SOME VERY ENCOURAGING WORDS ABOUT CARRYING THE VISION OF GOD INTO OUR DAILY LIVES.

Of course we can't forget what we ask for when we start the day with the 11th Step- "WE ASK GOD TO DIRECT OUR THINKING" and "we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use." AND "NEVERTHELESS, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of
inspiration." (pages 86 & 87)

Appendix B "Spiritual Experience (Step 12) reminds us of the " personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism."


The Steps I quoted from above tell us of the dangers of not practicing them but also of rewards and promises of applying them. We can also consider the promises of Step 9 on page 83 and 84 of the Big Book.

So it isn't "being" an arms length away from a drink that is the REAL concern, it's our state of mind, our spiritual condition- are you on good spiritual ground?

Here are a few other reasons why we're never truelly an arms length away from a drink.

I'm not an arms length away from a drink, I'm-

12 steps away from a drink

I'm a call to my sponsor away from a drink.

I'm a meeting away from a drink.

I'm a rehab away from a drink.

I'm a prayer away from a drink.

I'm a slogan away from a drink.

I'm a call to the hotline away from a drink.

I'm a call on the phone list away from a drink.