Keep Coming Back

Let's introduce some of the Twelve Step sayings that you will hear at meetings. These phrases at first glance seem trite and overly simplistic. I can tell you from experience that assiduous use of them can be helpful to recovery, even vital. One phrase was thrown at me in my early recovery seemingly as THE answer for almost every complaint or question I would find the nerve to ask: "Keep coming back." I could not see how this response was supposed to help me when I said I was lonely or angry or whatever. I now consider the advice to "keep coming back" as one of the most profound and spiritual suggestions that can be made to a person new to recovery. It really means: no matter what happens in your life, good, bad, or indifferent, just keep working on your recovery by attending meetings. I now understand that almost every problem can find resolution by not using and continuing to work on recovery by attending Twelve Step meetings, that is, if you happen to be an addict or alcoholic.