You are almost there. By now, you may have begun to feel the transformation taking over you. Reaching the 12th step of AA is, in itself, an achievement.
This is because when you participate in AA meetings, you are not allowed to jump steps. Take as much time as you want, but you must perform each step in chronological order.
So, when you reach the last step, you feel a sense of accomplishment, not to mention accomplishing the feat of staying away from alcohol all this while. Of course, you don’t expect yourselves to get drunk and do the steps!
Step 12 of AA
Step 12 of AA states:
“Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
You have undergone 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings by now, and this has almost taken you closer to spiritual awakening.
From admitting your alcoholism, surrendering to a higher power, making a personal inventory, admitting your powerlessness to alcohol, and then regaining your own power to admitting your mistakes, making amends with people whom you hurt, forgiving yourselves and others, and more – you are now a wiser, more mature, responsible, and humble person.
All this took time. And efforts. And tons of willpower.
All this while, you also used the Sobriety Calculator to keep track of your sober days. The calculator works by giving you the exact count of sober days. You must enter the date on which you stopped drinking, and the tool will calculate your sobriety level accurately.
Now you are on the last step of AA.
Performing the last step
The last step urges people to help other alcoholics recover and to continue practicing the steps in life.
This is similar to the 12th tradition of AA that states about working for the welfare of each other. It is this tradition that has kept the spirit of AA alive.
So, naturally, the last step encourages people that once they are recovered and have gone through all the steps, they must also help others do the same.
Also, when you stop attending an AA meeting in Virginia after full recovery, you must still continue to be as humble, forgiving, compassionate, and sober as you are now. The steps are not limited to the recovery process. The teachings of the steps extend far into life’s affairs.
Besides, sobriety is a lifelong affair.
Handling life as it comes
You will be greeted with temptations and triggers all your life. There will be times when you are shaky on your emotional side. This may make you more vulnerable to triggers.
Life is not the same all the time.
People who continue to implement the 12 steps in their life find it easier to tackle the shakiness, the triggers, and the ups and downs of life without relapsing.
For those who are new to AA and are seeking a meeting near their area, search “meetings near me” or refer to online directories.
