Keepers
Powerless is Not a Healthy
Feeling
By Betts
Hello, All - I
just got a distress call from a friend in AA some of you might be able to
identify with. She's a single mother, kids about 4 and 7, their father still
using. It's a foggy, drizzly Sunday out here. Both kids are at home with her,
doing their 'she did..', 'he did' .
. . kid stuff. Her father's back in
the hospital. Her mother's still drinking too much. She's
going bananas.
Her sponsor told her to write down all
the things she felt powerless over. I listened to her for a while, she getting
downer and downer as she went on. Finally said, in my genteel, grandmotherly
way: "That's bullshit, baby -- You know what you can't do anything about.
Try concentrating on what you can do. Bundle them up and take them for a walk. Make
some soup. Put away the dishes. Play a game with them in front of the fireplace.
Then you won't feel quite so powerless. It is not a healthy feeling right
now."
So now I'm waiting for a bolt of
lightning to strike me. Sorry, folks - just had to blow my top. Back to my own
chores. Peace!
Posted April 25, 1999
Response, by Carol L.
Your
friend is so fortunate to have you to turn to! This last round with AA my
sponsor told me something similar when I was feeling trapped in a very abusive
job. Since one of the reasons I have drunk in the past was to gain any sense of
power over my life, it was THE worst exercise in the world. I have never
understood the concept of how feeling powerless would help anyone stay sober.
You gave great advice!
Posted
April 26, 1999
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