The first meeting where I raised my hand and said ” my name is Michael and I am an Alcoholic, and I need help,” was a men’s group. I am not certain if I would have said it a mixed meeting or that how honest it would have been is not clear to me. The dynamic of confronting myself would be in question. There is always an element of trying to look strong in the eyes of the opposite gender, no matter how far down the scale you’ve come.
The fact that I was willing to lay aside my machismo and ask a group of men for help, was a true moment of humility/surrender. I arrived to these room’s with a great deal of ego and false pride, that I then thought was pride., but I know now it was all false.
The men in these rooms had to teach me a side of manhood I had not achieved in life, where learning the meaning of love and service was beyond sexism, it was about caring for individuals regardless of gender. Men saved my life and taught me how to be a man with mankind. I owe my life to many men and women, but it is the strength in the men who were strong enough to lift me, and tender enough to care. The sign of true men.
Peace Out: M 2015