Endigar 384 ~ Anger: A Dubious Luxury
From Today’s Daily Reflections;
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics these things are poison. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 66)
“Dubious luxury.” How often have I remembered those words. It’s not just anger that’s best left to nonalcoholics; I built a list including justifiable resentment, self-pity, judgmentalism, self-righteousness, false pride and false humility. I’m always surprised to read the actual quote. So well have the principles of the program been drummed into me that I keep thinking all of these defects are listed too. Thank God I can’t afford them or I surely would indulge in them.
END OF QUOTE
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The assertion that the aggressive anger that pushes forth my isolated self-will is a luxury for all humans is something I have to consider. It often seems to me that in order to get things accomplished, there has to be a fierce, angry approach to life. This is a social delusion that most of us indulge in one form or another. The Hollywood icon of the lone wolf justifies antisocial behavior by adorning it with accomplishments dripping with the blood of all who dare to resist the isolated will.
It is an illusion of strength. When the alcoholic entertains it, then that first drink makes a lot of sense. The tragic demoralization and death of addiction becomes the collateral damage that will be endured.
The moral inventory begins to reveal the true substance of strength. It is found in the cooperative will that gets one up every day to do the little things. It is found in realizing that we are all in this together. My drive to work is not a competitive sport. My daily schedule is not a hit list. The strong man or woman that we all look to is the person that emulates the qualities of Gomu (the God of my understanding). They give a damn about others. They seek to empower the individuals serving the common good.
Daily Reprieve 
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