Experienced Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members know that such slips are not necessarily repeated in the future. If the alcoholic can honestly review the kind of thinking and behaviour that preceded the slip, its recurrence can often be prevented. In fact, a slip can serve as a valuable lesson for alcoholics who believe that they have been “cured” of alcoholism merely because they have been dry for a while.

Overconfidence and unrealistic thinking sometimes result in slips.Judgment becomes fuzzy, and some alcoholics begin to believe that they can now control alcohol. They may go to fewer and fewer meetings, or they may begin to criticise the people in their group, losing sight of the AA tradition that the alcoholic should always put the principles of the programme before the personalities of its members.
Or it may be that the alcoholic forgot to live life one day at a time.

Of basic importance are three frequently used AA slogans: “First Things First, ” “Live and Let Live, ” and Easy Does It.” These are useful reminders that alcoholics are staying away from drinking one day at a time and that they are striving toward open-mindedness and serenity.

The AA Estcourt branch hosts meetings every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.