Hundreds of wives of men with drinking problems from all over the nation came to call her Anne S. or Annie.
Anne Smith: A Midwest Champion for Women
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More on Hope
And we thought 2021 might be different than 2020? Now we all have two never-would-have-imagined experiences – a pandemic and an armed insurrection. It is a good thing we are hopeful people! This week we continue our focus on hope. I am delighted to share reflections...
Hope for 2021: Wishful thinking?
I imagine we all are hoping for a better 2021! In my town of Greenbelt, Maryland, we marked the ending of the tumultuous 2020 by all going outside at midnight on New Year’s Eve to bang pots and pans. Not a new idea, yet very therapeutic and symbolic of the feeling of...
Out of chaos: lessons on faith from Twelve Step pioneers
We need to believe in something other than our own intellect and abilities. This awareness led the pioneers of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) to the liberating and empowering notion of a “power greater than ourselves – a Higher Power.” Today we explore this second key...
Order out of chaos: Lessons from Twelve Step pioneers
We need each other. We need to believe in something other than our own intellect and ability. These are two of the fundamental beliefs that allowed Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon Family Groups and other Twelve Step programs to grow and flourish. These two concepts...
Holidays during a pandemic: when do comfort escapes become addictions?
In normal times, holidays bring parties and opportunities to gather with family and friends. Accompanying these opportunities is often a tremendous array of food and drink. For many, overeating or drinking to excess is simply a momentary expression of...
Coronavirus and Addictions: So Different?
In Netflix movies, our news media and our personal lives, we all, more than likely, have seen the destructive power of addiction. Today in America, we’re also seeing the destructive power of the Coronavirus pandemic. Like with the pandemic, we're tempted to think of...
A Thanksgiving birthday legacy: Bill Wilson
Thanksgiving, November 26, marked the 125th birthday anniversary of Bill Wilson. Most people have never heard of him. Yet millions owe him their lives. In a world beleaguered by challenges beyond our understanding and response capacity, what Bill co-created with...
Giving Thanks in 2020? Gratitude Revisited
It may be a stretch to feel grateful this Thanksgiving. 2020 abounds with emotional pain for most of us. Economic and physical suffering or even death are touching so many of us. In the “divine economy,” our suffering can be louder than our gratitude. In my quiet...
What Bill Wilson Can Teach Us About the Coronavirus
Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, has a lot to teach us about navigating our lives through the coronavirus pandemic. The failed Wall Street stock analyst whose compulsion to drink took him to the edge of insanity and death developed a pragmatic...
About Tom Adams
Tom Adams writes and speaks on topics vital to the intersection of our personal lives with our community and global lives. He has for decades been engaged in and written about nonprofit leadership and transitions, spirituality and spiritual growth, how we each contribute to a more just and equitable world and recovery from addictions and the Twelve Step recovery movement.