We are All Equal (The Daily Trudge)

We are All Equal (The Daily Trudge)

What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? On RAW Recovery’s Daily Trudge, host Dion keeps things honest, sweary, and surprisingly funny while unpacking a big idea: in AA, *“we may come in different, but we recover the same.”* This episode centres on equality in recovery, using the AA Traditions and a Daily Reflection as a starting point.

Dion talks about “creating recovery equity” so that *“everybody gets the same great shot at recovery,”* whether someone has one day sober or ten years, a suit and tie or tattoos on their face. He stresses that AA membership *“ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism”*—no one gets screened out based on money, background, or appearance. You’ll hear plenty of humour too, from toothache grumbling and cat chaos to bad coffee jokes and wordplay about IQ tests.

The relaxed style makes some heavy truths easier to take in, especially around ego, judgment, and comparison. Dion challenges the habit of measuring ourselves against others: sober time, war stories, success outside the rooms. The only fair comparison, he says, is between who you were and who you are today. He also tackles stigma and the myth of perfectly “safe spaces”, pointing out that recovery groups are still full of imperfect humans.

Instead of relying on others to create safety, he talks about building self-esteem and self-worth so you become your own safe base, while still leaning on the “tribe” for support. This episode is especially relatable for anyone who has ever walked into a meeting thinking, “I don’t belong here,” or sat nearest the door with their camera off on Zoom.

Dion’s message is simple and direct: the disease is shared, the path is shared, and no one is above or below anyone else. So where are you still comparing yourself, and what might change if you started seeing yourself as equal instead of less than—or more than?