are just a group of nice, hard-working people
who are trying to stay sober, lead good lives,
and work with each other about being open,
honest, and vulnerable. We reinforce each
other’s behavior by talking about our chemical
dependency in a disciplined way as we go
through the 12 steps. I feel blessed to be surrounded
by people who are thinking about
those kinds of issues and actually doing something,
not just talking about them.”
Bill George’s experiences echo Piper’s: In
1974, he joined a men’s group that formed
after a weekend retreat. More than 30 years
later, the group is still meeting every Wednesday
morning. After an opening period of
catching up on each other’s lives and dealing
with any particular difficulty someone may
be facing, one of the group’s eight members
leads a discussion on a topic he has selected.
These discussions are open, probing, and
often profound. The key to their success is
that people say what they really believe without
fear of judgment, criticism, or reprisal. All
the members consider the group to be one of
the most important aspects of their lives, enabling
them to clarify their beliefs, values,
and understanding of vital issues, as well as