Tom Tuesday: Tom I - Working with Others

Tom Tuesday: Tom I - Working with Others

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? In this AA speaker meeting from Muscatine, Illinois, longtime member Tom I talks about "Working with Others" and what that really means in Alcoholics Anonymous. With over four decades sober, he jokes that AA is "the strangest kind of selfish program" because it's "about 90% give and about 10% gimme," and he insists that helping other alcoholics is a survival tool, not a feel‑good hobby.

Tom shares his belief that alcoholism is "a killer illness" and reminds you that sobriety is a fragile gift that can vanish the moment spiritual defences drop.

From there, he focuses on the AA chapter "Working With Others" and explains why intensive work with other alcoholics is the best protection from drinking: "Nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics." You’ll hear vivid stories about 12‑step calls, including visiting a suicidal woman with his wife, and a high‑powered executive who had spent fortunes on treatment and experts.

Tom cuts through status and ego with a simple message: "We're here because we love you... This isn't for sale." He stresses going with another person on 12‑step calls, saying a quick prayer beforehand, and keeping the focus on the basics: recognising alcoholism, wanting to stay sober, and believing it can be done one day at a time. Tom also talks about families, closed and open meetings, and the impact of treatment centres and court mandates on AA’s culture.

He worries that many members have never done a 12‑step call and challenges the fellowship to stay connected to newcomers and to the wider community. Throughout, he keeps returning to one idea: AA works best when alcoholics walk "day by day in the path of spiritual progress" together. If you’re wondering how service and sponsorship fit into your own recovery, this talk might spark a few honest questions about what you’re giving—and what you’re getting back.