"rst" in the Big Book

These observations would be academic and pointless if our friend never took the first drink, thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion.

And the truth, strange to say, is usually that he has no more idea why he took that first drink than you have.

We are without defense against the first drink.

What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God.

The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success.

Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning,

The first thing ap­

The best reason first: If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking.

If that is so, this step may be postponed, only, however, if we hold ourselves in complete readiness to go through with it at the first opportunity.

Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have omitted anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last.

To some people we need not, and probably should not emphasize the spiritual feature on our first approach.

Because of resentment and drinking, he had not paid alimony to his first wife.

We suggested he write his first wife admitting his faults and asking forgiveness.

He attended church for the first time in many years.

Though you have talked with the family, leave them out of the first discussion.

At first engage in general conversation.

Show him the mental twist which leads to the first drink of a spree.

Show him, from your own experience, how the queer mental condition surrounding that first drink prevents normal functioning of the will power.

On your first visit tell him about the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

One of our Fellowship failed entirely with his first half dozen prospects.

The first principle of success is that you should never be angry.

Since this book was first published, A.A. has released thousands of alcoholics from asylums and hospitals of every kind.

At first, some of us did not believe we needed this help.

be the first to say it was your devotion and care which brought him to the point where he could have a spiritual experience.

Cessation of drinking is but the first step away from a highly strained, abnormal condition.

The first impulse will be to bury these skeletons in a dark closet and padlock the door.

In the first flush of spiritual experience they forgave each other and drew closer together.

The family will be affected also, pleasantly at first, as they feel their money troubles are about to be solved, then not so pleasantly as they find themselves neglected.

Although financial recovery is on the way for many of us, we found we could not place money first.

During those first days of convalescence, this will do more to insure his sobriety than anything else.

When we see a man sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and place what we have at his disposal.

To him the alcoholic has often seemed a fool of the first magnitude.

Had they fired me first, and had they then taken steps to see that I was presented with the solution contained in this book, I might have returned to them six months later, a well man.

Only a few knew of it at first but, within a short time, it was billboarded throughout the entire company.