Earlier today I took offense to something someone posted here, one of the mods. We got into a bit of a spate over it. Thankfully, we were able to talk it out in private messages. The situation made me realize that we are both under pressure and stressed about various things and current events. In retrospect, I feel we both overreacted at certain points. In the end, I learned from the interaction that, while we are wise to be vigilant and on our guards, we can never afford to jump too quickly to conclusions. We are all human, and we are all under a great deal of pressure. We must shoulder our collective burdens while being gracious in disagreement. The mod in question and I thankfully did just that in the end. We don't have to agree on everything, but we have each others' backs in this fight.
The truth is, smoothing this over was easy, because we share so much in common. But we must find ways to bridge the void between us and others, as well, even deluded Democrats and Biden supporters. The divisions in society are such that our movement cannot be about domination. It needs to be about unification under our great principles. We must promote the truth and we must seek out and develop common ground. True, there are some, even many, with whom we may never find common ground. But shame on us when we simply fail to find it due to our own pride and/or exhaustion with the fight.
Let's all strive to do better. I know I will. And when I fail, please correct me with kindness and I will try to respond the same.
I'm reminded of the 10th Step in the AA program.
Continued to take personal inventory and when we're wrong promptly admit it.
I literally just did this with something at work.
Are you a friend of Bill W?
Bill Wilson is considered the founder of AA, along with Dr. Bob.
No. but maybe? but probably not.
It's AA code for "are you a member of AA?"
I'm lost and haven't a clue wtf you're talking about but I upvoted you anyway for taking the time to try to explain something to me that I'm too dumb to get.
No problem, and no, you're not dumb. The entire theme of the OP post is one of reconciliation and making amends (or apologies) to someone when we have somehow wronged them. As a long-time member of AA (33 years sober) the concept of amends and keeping on the best basis with our fellow man as possible.
This concept is the basis for Step 10 (it's a 12-step program) says, "Continued to take personal inventory and when we're wrong promptly admit it." In Step 4, we made a fearless and moral inventory of ourselves... in Step 10 we continue that process.
So that is what that discussion was all about. The 12 Steps saved my ass and saved my life. Another anon (Gammmadorf) chimed in as another recovering person, when he mentioned "NA".... which is Narcotics Anonymous. These 12-steps are the basis for our recovery from drugs or alcohol, and they are a good roadmap for living life, even if one is NOT in one of these programs.
Here are the 12 Steps in AA:
1 We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5 Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6 Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7 Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9 Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10 Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
I sincerely hope this helps.
Damn, man. Good for you. Congratulations.
But, that number. xD
The fact that you took the time to respond with that means a lot. I wish you the best on your continued path to the best possible version of yourself. I'll do my best to follow the example you're setting for others.
NA pede here. That's a big one and honestly a valuable skill to have in life regardless of substance issues.
Very true. Best of luck with your program.
No more judgement (discernment) is needed. Lack of is why our world is in such a mess
Remember the story of the prodigal son:
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”