“Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.”
“Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.” โ Alcoholics Anonymous (1939) · Chapter 5 · How It WorksWhere it comes from
From the opening of Chapter 5 โ the passage read aloud at the start of thousands of meetings every day, just before the Twelve Steps are listed.
Today’s reflectionMost of us tried moderation, geography changes, and willpower-only long before we tried surrender. Those were the half measures. This line isnโt a scolding โ itโs a relief. It says you can stop negotiating. Standing at the turning point simply means being done bargaining with the thing thatโs beating you. Today, notice one place youโre still holding back โa little,โ and consider what letting go of that last reservation might feel like.
Read the original passage · How It Works, 1939 → Step 3 ยท WillingnessQuote from the 1939 first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (public domain). Reflection original to baltimoresober.com. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
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