Last Tuesday, June 10^th, was the 90^th anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous and the topic of my post. My co-author Joy Jones, and I had the privilege of attending the Founders Day weekend in Akron last weekend. This week’s post offers all readers – in recovery or not – a taste of the amazing energy and magic we experienced. 

Joy summed up the weekend in one simple statement: “I’ve never been to a conference where the people were more friendly.” Joy’s been to a lot of conferences of all types. This was not hyperbole; there was a warmth and openness that was palpable. 

There were over 9,000 people in recovery assembled on the University of Akron campus. Sessions varied from 100 to 2500 people; there were 9,000 at the grand finale for everyone Saturday in the Stadium. 

As we walked the campus, engaging in conversation with friends and strangers was easy.  Some were in recovery a long time, others a few days or months. 

One group of 7 or 8 seemed to be having a particularly good time so we stopped to visit with them. They were led by a young woman in her 20s. Our conversation revealed that she was an addiction recovery counselor and had brought this group from a recovery treatment center nearby.  What a brilliant idea! She provided those new in recovery an opportunity to be on a campus full of people for whom recovery obviously works. She and her employer were obviously intent on doing everything possible to support these young people in their recovery journey. 

They, and all of us, saw recovery in the smiles, in the energetic conversations, and in the experience of sharing openly with another. Everyone is equal at a recovery event. There are no experts. All are walking the recovery path, grateful to have escaped the hell of addiction. 

This same enthusiasm overflowed at the Saturday evening celebration of recovery, including the sobriety count-down. The pumped-up crowd cheered as all 9000 people recognized and applauded each person’s present length of sobriety. The cheers were loud for all, whether newcomers with one day or “old-timers” with 61 years. People recollected their own challenges of getting sober; they imagined how much better their life might get by adding years of sobriety. 

Sunday morning touched me in a way I hadn’t expected. The closing activities include an early morning motorcade to the grave site of Akron-based co-founder, Dr. Bob Smith. What makes this parade unique is the line of motorcycles that leads it. Having always been a wanna-be motorcyclist, I got up early and headed over to where the bikers were assembling. There were so many; I couldn’t see them all. They were lined up around two square blocks.  There must have been 1000 or more. Each bike, rider and passenger were colorfully decked out. Each had a huge smile as they took delight in being part of this moment. 

Their joy and enthusiasm made me think about the paths these very different people each took to hit bottom and head into recovery. I thought about their lives and my life. And here they all were sober and thrilled to be riding in this parade, to be giving thanks to the elders who paved the way for their sobriety journey.

It was one thing to notice bikes on the campus Friday and Saturday. It was quite another kind of experience to see this huge line of bikers and hear them revving their engines, making those mufflers make that magical Harley sound and honking and waving, excited to be there. 

I stood there for fifteen minutes or so watching them take off with a huge smile on my face. Somehow, the sight of this sea of motorcyclists symbolized for me the enormity of the magic of recovery. All over the world, people of all ages, races, and ethnicities have the same pride and joy in living as a result of finding recovery. 

People in recovery learn that we can protect our gift by passing it on to others. Is there someone you know who may be looking for a way out of the pain of addiction for themselves, or their family? Pass it on.