I’ve been through a number of twelve-step programs and found value in all of them.

I was surprised to discover, when going through my first 12-step program, A.A., that the steps themselves had very little to do with alcohol. It was more about taking personal responsibility in my life.

A.A. taught me to put my hands on the steering wheel of my life and start steering.

I then went through a number of other twelve-step programs. Not all, just a bunch. I do have my personal favorites for different reasons. Some are more applicable to me than others.

I love the people I meet and engage with in those rooms, and the deep, stimulating conversations.

The best and most honest people I know in life, most of them I met in the rooms of recovery.

I’ve been up a lot of steps in a lot of different recovery programs. For a while, I probably looked like Rocky running up a bunch of steps.

I always seemed to be more spiritually conscious of myself when doing the steps and being in the rooms.

I meet the best people in there. We have deep and honest conversations without fear of being judged in those rooms.

When I can help others through the steps, suddenly I have an internal sense of purpose. I am paying my life forward by serving others. By serving others, I am serving my Higher Power, and I can expect to enjoy the many blessings associated with being God’s servant. (God likes to make sure His servants are fat and happy.)

My life improves as I watch and assist others in alleviating suffering in their own lives by going through the steps.

I always pick up wisdom in those rooms. There’s loads of wisdom in the rooms of recovery. Shit loads of wisdom.

(Hey… possibly the title of my next book… Shit Loads of Wisdom.)

I’ve been to rooms of different sizes. I’ve been in some ACoA meetings with over 40 people in the room, and I’ve been to some where I show up and I’m maybe one of three people.

Internally, I think, “Well, this is going to be interesting.”

I will be in the rooms of recovery for the rest of my life.

Those are my people.