Talking with Dr. Paul (2024)

FAQs

Who is Dr. Paul O' in AA? ›

Dr Paul is the author of the 3rd Edition Big Book Story, “DOCTOR, ALCOHOLIC, ADDICT.” Dr Paul's story was renamed, “ACCEPTANCE WAS THE ANSWER” in the 4th Edition. Doctor Paul Ohliger is often called, the “Funniest Man in Alcoholics Anonymous,". Doctor Paul lived in California.

Through friends in California, I obtained the telephone number of Dr. Paul O., hoping to interview him for our Intergroup's newsletter. Dr. Paul is the author of the Big Book story “Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict,” [Now “Acceptance Was the Answer”] which contains that famous passage on acceptance on page 449 [Now 417].

Acceptance in the AA Big Book implies that when we unpack the simple facts – that this person, place, thing, or situation merely exists, just as it is, and drop the drama surrounding it – we open ourselves to finding a way of dealing it with that brings us back to serenity.

Some circuit speakers have become extremely famous and are actually known throughout AA culture, such as Clancy, Bob Bisanz, Sandy Beach, and the duo, Joe and Charlie.

The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear. 3. Our former enemies sometimes praise what we are doing and wish us well.

The Organization Of AA

AA is not run by a leadership team, but rather, by members who are former alcoholics with a desire to help others. This organizational structure has been tremendously successful for AA and its more than two million members.

Help me to master my resentments by understanding that the people who wrong me were perhaps spiritually sick. Please help me show those I resent the same Tolerance, Pity and Patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend.

Page 417 – 418

Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy.

The two main agnostic atheists who helped found the AA organization were Jim Burwell and Hank Parkhurst. Though only two co-founders are officially recognized, many people consider Jim Burwell, also known as Jim B., to be the third founder of AA.

What does the AA motto accept? ›

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.” Thus, A.A. members need not hold any sort of religious or A.A.-defined spiritual beliefs to find help for their drinking. Each person determines their own pathway in their recovery from alcoholism.

Earl Hightower is one of the country's most gifted in- dividual speakers who can touch both the addict and their family members with his compelling and riveting story.

Sandy B aka Richard J. “Sandy” Beach (1931 – Sept 28, 2014) passed on Sunday, September 28, 2014 in an AA meeting while reading from Step 1 in the Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions. On December 7, 1964 (Pearl Harbor Day) Sandy stopped drinking and began a deep and lasting belief in the spiritual power of AA.

Biography. Paul O'Connor is a Personal Professor in the School of Medicine and Human Factors Psychologist. He started as a Lecturer in Primary Care in January 2013 after coming to the University of Galway as a Senior Research Methodologist in July 2010.

Robert Holbrook Smith (August 8, 1879 – November 16, 1950), also known as Dr. Bob, was an American physician and surgeon who founded Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson (more commonly known as Bill W.). St. Johnsbury, Vermont, U.S.

Bill Dotson, the "Man on the Bed," was AA number 3. At his death, he had not had a drink in more than nineteen years. His date of sobriety was the date he entered Akron's City Hospital for his last detox, June 26, 1935. Two days later occurred that fateful day when two sober alcoholics visited him: Dr.

By: BOB P. Bob P. is the author of "AA Taught Him to Handle Sobriety," the final story in the Third Edition of the Big Book. A Grapevine staff member interviewed Bob by telephone at his winter home in Idaho.