So I was smoking a cigarette during the break .. . [View all]

[Meteor Man]

at an AA meeting. Two Old Timers got in an argument over whether you "work" the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous or you "take" the steps.

Brief issue summary: The 12 Steps are included in a chapter of the AA Big Book titled "How It Works". The sentence preceeding the 12 Steps states "These are the steps we took".


Several people had to step between the Old Farts to stop them from engaging in a fist fight over the correct description of how to implement the 12 Steps and recover from the "pitiful incomprehensible demoralization" of the alcoholic's emotional collapse.

This was a graphic example to me of how people who put on a good pretense of being full grown mature adults can descend into immature emotional responses over trivial concerns.

I have no doubt that both parties were absolutely convinced of the righteousness of their opinion and felt very deeply that the outcome of their disagreement was vital to the survival of AA.

I also resolved never to "be that guy". So far so good. For the most part, I have managed to avoid over reacting to trivial slights that threaten my ego.

Full grown mature adults do not let minor events or trivial transgressions trigger an emotional response. As the saying goes:

Don't sweat the small stuff!

AND

It's all small stuff.