We hear a lot of talk about those in the rooms of 12 Step fellowships going out and never coming back. Many of us know of those who have died in their disease. We morn, criticize and wonder about our friends we have not seen in months or years. But what about those who do keep coming back, who do stay clean and or sober? Is the only time we recognize or talk about them is at birthday meetings? May I suggest a little more sharing about those who do stay in the rooms, those who do stay in recovery.

The newcomer as well as the old-timer needs to be shown that the program still works and there are those who still work it.

You and I can’t do anything about someone else’s decision to leave our fellowships but we can make an impact on the newcomer by letting them know and showing them evidence that if they will stick around they can be one of those who will still be here when others have fallen by the wayside.

This week I will focus on those who stick with it. Those who are living proof that when we follow a few simple Steps we do recover. I will help to point the newcomer towards the success of the program instead of the losses. Though we need to share a healthy balance of both, this week I will commit myself to the positive. “We do recover.”