ABC's

(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.

 That says So much right there! I am an alcoholic and i couldn't as much as i tried to relieve my alcoholism and i depended on others to be my Higher Power.
  I was so defiant to try something new. I kept expecting different results in the same thing putting my faith in man and they let me down over and over.

Is not drinking enough?

 Donna S alcoholic from NJ 

 Happy, Joyful & Free due to the grace of God.

"Is not drinking enough?"
......for me i had to learn the hard way. I found out there's more to it then not drinking, There's more to it then just showing up, there's more to it then fellowship, there more to it them the 12 Steps, and giving  back. I have to get up everyday and work on my spiritual condition as it is the only way for me to stay Happy, Joyous and Free. I have to ask God, my Higher Power, to help me. Anyone can go thru the steps, I did and I didn't follow thru.  I still have to open that book that collects dust, that's on  many people shelves, i know mine did for years.  I left it in the car so i wouldn't forget it. Well I almost drank in my 6th  year because i didn't take it all that seriously and didn't continue to  read the big book or the other AA material that's out there. It is there for a reason! I speak for myself, and if I continue to work on my self , I have to as I get complacent easily. I don't want to go back to being depressed  and into self as hard as it is some day's.  So I  read the meditations,  I talk to God, I talk to other alcoholics, go to meetings and give back and I continue to seek spiritual sobriety.
I just bought another book to read about the 12 Steps by Joe McQ,  and I read one awhile back on Spiritual Recovery. 
I  went to  ANY LENGTHS  when I was in my addiction, so now I  go to ANY LENGTHS for my recovery!!  I  am at peace with myself, most the time and that I thought was never going to be possible.
So to answer the question, Is not drinking enough? NO,I have to go to any lengths every day to keep Spiritually Fit!
I love reading new things and learning more about life and what I can use to further my Spiritual being.
I need u all , so please keep coming.  If you are new, Just keep coming, One day at a time
Love & Blessings

Chapter 5 How It works -pg 67-68 - FEAR

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Donna S grateful alcoholic from NJ

When I got to this part of the 4th step I was like, I KNOW THIS,
I LIVE IN IT.
Fear froze me for a very long time and drinking helped me to not have fear
so it was a reason to drink, as I can do anything with a drink.
I was in so much fear I couldn't talk to people with out a drink.
I couldn't walk the dog with out a drink or go to the park with my kids with
out a 6 pack and bottle of J.D. and then I was miss chatty,OVER CHATTY

Over time we stopped going out as I couldn't handle my drinking. I would be brought home by the police, which wasn't good as we were in politics in town.
So I drank at home, only going out to go to get my beer and J.D.

Chapter 5 How it Works- page 63-67 Resentments

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Donna S. grateful alcoholic

When I first was introduced to the step 4 I was clueless and my sponsor was even more clueless. She read the big book to me ...Step 4
and then handed me a bunch of work sheets and said fill them out
no direction, no if u have a problem ask. I coped a resentment lol

SO I eventually asked someone I saw change and she mentioned she did the steps over and would take me threw. We read this part of the big book and she told me to write out all the people, institutions and principles I knew.

I went down my list of people and wrote thier name ,then the cause of why I was resentful in 7 words or less ,that when we did the 5th step I could get more into detail. Then what it effected, Self-esteem (fear), Security, Our Ambitions, Personal relationships, pocketbook, Sex relations, or pride.