Ihad been a member of different Twelve Step programs for many years. Each one addressed one of my various issues. Unfortunately, in retrospect, I can see that these other groups were, in practice, three-step programs.

	I was shocked to find one fellowship that welcomed everyone with any problem or behavior.

    For the most part, they only discussed the first three steps. These groups would tell people who were not doing well to go back and redo each of these steps. They rarely discussed or worked the rest of the Twelve Steps.
    Then I found Recoveries Anonymous. I was shocked to find one fellowship that welcomed everyone with any problem or behavior. I was also surprised to find that my family and friends were encouraged to attend with me.
    I found that this was because R.A. is solution focused. In R.A., I do not speak about my life or the difficulties I face. I only talk about the original spiritual program that the pioneers describe in the literature. Therefore, in R.A., I do not have to worry about sharing something about myself that might be troubling to someone who knows me.
    In R.A., they had me read something from the Big Book. I had also read it at most of the other Twelve Step meetings I attended. It says, "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." However, they also had me read the original version from R.A.'s Multilith Big Book. It says, "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our directions."
    Someone suggested that I look up the word "thoroughly" in a dictionary. I read that this means "to follow to completion." I now understand that it is unreasonable for me, or anyone, to expect to get the full results of working the Twelve Steps when I had only worked three of them. In R.A., they stress that it is a Twelve Step program. They let me know that I have to work all of them to receive all of the results.
   I was encouraged to take an R.A. sponsor. She and several other members led me through R.A.'s Step Presentation. We used R.A.'s Multilith Big Book as an instruction manual. I had never thought I would do the first three steps well enough to move on. Now, thanks to R.A., I have worked the first nine steps, and I live in Steps Ten, Eleven, and Twelve.

My R.A. sponsor stressed the importance of the Twelfth Step, working with others.

    My R.A. sponsor stressed the importance of the Twelfth Step, working with others. She pointed out that many people do not realize how valuable this is. She said it is essential to finding and maintaining recovery. Therefore, in R.A., they spend extra time emphasizing it.
    My sponsor let me know that some people get scared. They are doing so well that they stop at the Eleventh Step. They do not think they are ready to work with others. They do not feel they know enough or are capable enough. They forget that Bill Wilson says that even the "newest of newcomers" can benefit from working with others.
    My experience is that this is especially true in Recoveries Anonymous. This fellowship uses R.A.'s Step Presentation to take a newcomer through the Twelve Steps. R.A. Primary and Secondary sponsors provide a fantastic amount of support. I do not have to work with others on my own.
    Every time I take a newcomer through R.A.'s Step Presentation, I see things I did not see before. I gained confidence and understanding. I enhance my conscious contact with my loving Creator. I experience the joy of seeing someone who has struggled for many years experience the permanent recovery and contented, useful life that this program promises.

R.A.’s “How To Begin…” Guides
To find out more about our Twelve Step Fellowship, and how you can get started working the Twelve Steps of our Solution Focused Program of Recovery, we suggest that you visit our website and Download R.A.'s free "How To Begin…" guides. This includes the blue R.A.'s Newcomer Guide, and the brown "R.A.'s Meetings Guide."

R.A.’s Solution Focused Books
    Move up to the next step in your search for recovery by downloading and reading the PDF versions of R.A.'s Solution Focused Books. We do not charge for the PDF versions of our books. Instead, we give the passwords needed to open our books to thank those who support our efforts to help others. You can show your support by making a small, one time, tax-free contribution to R.A., or, if you truly cannot afford to make a contribution at this time, by filling out our Feedback Form.
    If you are reading this, you have probably spent a lot of time and energy trying things that did not work out the way you hoped they would. Doesn't it make sense to invest a little more time and energy in this time-proven method of finding the recovery you've been seeking? As the pioneers promise in the Multilith Big Book: ''It works—it really does. Try it.''

R.A. Is Self-supporting
If R.A. has helped you, please consider making a contribution in support of our efforts to help others.

Recoveries Anonymous
For more information about Recoveries Anonymous visit our website at www.R-A.org