Friendship of a kind that cannot easily be reversed tomorrow must have its roots in common interests and shared beliefs. —Barbara W. Tuchman—
The gift of friendship has been extended to each of us sharing this program. Our interest is common: we want to stay abstinent. And we share the belief that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. We trust our commitment to one another here. We are learning to live the program’s principles in all our affairs. In years gone by, friendships were often missing from our lives. We had a friend, here and there, certainly, but could she really be trusted – with our secrets, with our spouse? An overriding fear and one not without reason.
It’s likely that we, too, failed to be good friends. Friendship, anytime, means risking vulnerability. It means making a decision to be trustworthy. And it means not backing away from either, anytime. Friendships so enrich our lives; they complete us. The experiences shared among friends give us all an edge on living. It is no accident that we have been drawn here together. What we have will help another. I must be willing to give away my intimate self to my sisters in trust. My strength as a woman recovering will increase as my ties of friendship increase.