SOMETIMES in Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions

From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)

somehow

someone

something

SOMETIMES occurs 96 times (Definition from Merriam-Webster Online)

somewhat

somewhere

son

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... sometimes a mistake. BB p.95, Working With Others

This is sometimes a mistake.

Sometimes a new man is anxious to ... BB p.95, Working With Others

Sometimes a new man is anxious to proceed at once, and you may be tempted to let him do so.

... sometimes a serious one. 12&12 p.25, Step Two

The moment they read Step Two, most A.A. newcomers are confronted with a dilemma, sometimes a serious one.

Sometimes a small deal would net a ... BB p.5, Bill's Story

Sometimes a small deal would net a few hundred dollars, and I would pay my bills at the bars and delicatessens.

... sometimes a very great one, was felt ... BB p.63, How It Works

This was only a beginning, though if honestly and humbly made, an effect, sometimes a very great one, was felt at once.

Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who ... 12&12 p.28, Step Two

Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting.

... sometimes accuse even their best friends of ... 12&12 p.56, Step Five

They will tell how they tried to carry the load alone; how much they suffered of irritability, anxiety, remorse, and depression; and how, unconsciously seeking relief, they would sometimes accuse even their best friends of the very character defects they themselves were trying to conceal.

... sometimes assure us that, after all, a ... 12&12 p.79, Step Eight

Those who did would sometimes assure us that, after all, a lively bender was only a good man's fault.

... sometimes bad actors. 12&12 p.55, Step Five

We search for an easier way -- which usually consists of the general and fairly painless admission that when drinking we were sometimes bad actors.

10.

... sometimes be quite as damaging. 12&12 p.81, Step Eight

Let us think of some of the subtler ones which can sometimes be quite as damaging.

11.

... sometimes be quite virtuous. BB p.61, How It Works

In trying to make these arrangements our actor may sometimes be quite virtuous.

12.

... sometimes be unreasonable and you will want ... BB p.117, To Wives

Your husband will sometimes be unreasonable and you will want to criticize.

13.

... sometimes been obliged to separate for a ... BB p.125, The Family Afterward

Husbands and wives have sometimes been obliged to separate for a time until new perspective, new victory over hurt pride could be rewon.

14.

... sometimes begin with indifference. 12&12 p.112, Step Twelve

Our troubles sometimes begin with indifference.

15.

... sometimes brought home -- our husbands thought we ... BB p.106, To Wives

The bill collectors, the sheriffs, the angry taxi drivers, the policemen, the bums, the pals, and even the ladies they sometimes brought home -- our husbands thought we were so inhospitable.

16.

... sometimes carry the message to so many ... 12&12 p.111, Step Twelve

By a great deal of ardent Twelfth Step work we sometimes carry the message to so many alcoholics that they place us in a position of trust.

17.

... sometimes creates serious complications in a family. BB p.97, Working With Others

It is not good for him, and it sometimes creates serious complications in a family.

18.

... sometimes crippled by our own illness that ... 12&12 p.112, Step Twelve

Can we have the same kind of confidence and faith in these people who have been infected and sometimes crippled by our own illness that we have in our sponsors?

19.

... sometimes deranged family lives that we bring ... 12&12 p.112, Step Twelve

Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group?

20.

... sometimes difficult to follow, but you will ... BB p.111, To Wives

We know these suggestions are sometimes difficult to follow, but you will save many a heartbreak if you can succeed in observing them.

21.

... sometimes discuss those intimate and harrowing aspects ... 12&12 p.185, Tradition Twelve

Enthusiastic over the spectacular recovery of a brother alcoholic, we'd sometimes discuss those intimate and harrowing aspects of his case meant for his sponsor's ear alone.

22.

... sometimes displays with respect to other matters? BB p.22, There Is A Solution

What has become of the common sense and will power that he still sometimes displays with respect to other matters?

23.

... sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and ... BB p.134, The Family Afterward

The children are sometimes dominated by a pathetic hardness and cynicism.

24.

... sometimes drinks in the morning and through ... BB p.109, To Wives

He sometimes drinks in the morning and through the day also, to hold his nervousness in check.

25.

... sometimes encounter people who do not understand ... BB p.74, Into Action

Of course, we sometimes encounter people who do not understand alcoholics.

26.

... sometimes feel his own inadequacy. BB xxix(xxvii), The Doctor's Opinion

Faced with this problem, if a doctor is honest with himself, he must sometimes feel his own inadequacy.

27.

... sometimes frightening people were to make astonishing ... 12&12 p.140, Tradition Three

How could we know that thousands of these sometimes frightening people were to make astonishing recoveries and become our greatest workers and intimate friends?

28.

... sometimes go to the other extreme and ... 12&12 p.120, Step Twelve

In our drinking time, we acted as if the money supply was inexhaustible, though between binges we'd sometimes go to the other extreme and become almost miserly.

29.

Sometimes he drinks on the way home ... BB p.110, To Wives

Sometimes he drinks on the way home from the hospital.

30.

Sometimes he explodes over a trifle. BB p.126, The Family Afterward

Sometimes he explodes over a trifle.

31.

Sometimes he is a source of embarrassment ... BB p.109, To Wives

Sometimes he is a source of embarrassment to you and his friends.

32.

Sometimes he will be so interested that ... BB p.119, To Wives

Sometimes he will be so interested that he becomes really neglectful.

33.

... sometimes hide out in one of the ... BB p.176, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

I would sometimes hide out in one of the clubs of which I was a member, and had the habit at times of registering at a hotel under a fictitious name.

34.

... sometimes hours spent in self-examination are bound ... 12&12 p.89, Step Ten

For these minutes and sometimes hours spent in self-examination are bound to make all the other hours of our day better and happier.

35.

... sometimes hurt those we love because they ... 12&12 p.94, Step Ten

We sometimes hurt those we love because they need to be "taught a lesson," when we really want to punish.

36.

Sometimes I stole from my wife's slender ... BB p.6, Bill's Story

Sometimes I stole from my wife's slender purse when the morning terror and madness were on me.

37.

Sometimes I would bring it in my ... BB p.176, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

Sometimes I would bring it in my pockets, but they were inspected, and that became too risky.

38.

... sometimes impossible to persuade an alcoholic to ... BB p.18, There Is A Solution

Highly competent psychiatrists who have dealt with us have found it sometimes impossible to persuade an alcoholic to discuss his situation without reserve.

39.

Sometimes it's because God has not delivered ... 12&12 p.31, Step Two

Sometimes it's because God has not delivered us the good things of life which we specified, as a greedy child makes an impossible list for Santa Claus.

40.

Sometimes it is to the best interests ... BB p.99, Working With Others

Sometimes it is to the best interests of all concerned that a couple remain apart.

41.

Sometimes it is wise to wait till ... BB p.90, Working With Others

Sometimes it is wise to wait till he goes on a binge.

42.

Sometimes it was remorse and then we ... BB p.66, How It Works

Sometimes it was remorse and then we were sore at ourselves.

43.

... sometimes kept such a man at work ... BB p.137, To Employers

Because of the employee's special ability, or of his own strong personal attachment to him, the employer has sometimes kept such a man at work long beyond a reasonable period.

44.

... sometimes let us down, especially when our ... 12&12 p.115, Step Twelve

We had refused to learn the very hard lesson that overdependence upon people is unsuccessful because all people are fallible, and even the best of them will sometimes let us down, especially when our demands for attention become unreasonable.

45.

... sometimes more durable, satisfactions when the brighter, ... 12&12 p.112, Step Twelve

Can we steadfastly content ourselves with the humbler, yet sometimes more durable, satisfactions when the brighter, more glittering achievements are denied us?

46.

Sometimes mother and children don't think so. BB p.126, The Family Afterward

Sometimes mother and children don't think so.

47.

... sometimes nearly drove me back to drink, ... BB p.15, Bill's Story

This sometimes nearly drove me back to drink, but I soon found that when all other measures failed, work with another alcoholic would save the day.

48.

... sometimes our drinking will be used politically. BB p.145, To Employers

But sometimes our drinking will be used politically.

49.

... sometimes outside interference in our affairs. 12&12 p.161, Tradition Seven

Now and then, grateful benefactors had endowed clubhouses, and as a result there was sometimes outside interference in our affairs.

50.

... sometimes poles apart. 12&12 p.174, Tradition Nine

It is the difference between the spirit of vested authority and the spirit of service, two concepts which are sometimes poles apart.

51.

... sometimes praise what we are doing and ... BB p.78, Into Action

Our former enemies sometimes praise what we are doing and wish us well.

52.

... sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. BB p.84, Into Action

They are being fulfilled among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

53.

... sometimes quite forgotten, damaging emotional conflicts persist ... 12&12 p.79, Step Eight

Very deep, sometimes quite forgotten, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness.

54.

... sometimes quite unconscious of this, the result ... 12&12 p.115, Step Twelve

Though we were sometimes quite unconscious of this, the result always had been the same.

55.

... sometimes reflected more than Jim did upon ... BB p.37, More About Alcoholism

We have sometimes reflected more than Jim did upon the consequences.

56.

... sometimes say she is neglected. BB p.97, Working With Others

Your wife may sometimes say she is neglected.

57.

... sometimes seem to be within us, and ... 12&12 p.52, Step Four

These stem from causes which sometimes seem to be within us, and at other times to come from without.

58.

... sometimes seen families broken apart by misunderstanding, ... 12&12 p.114, Step Twelve

We have sometimes seen families broken apart by misunderstanding, tensions, or actual infidelity, who are reunited by the A.A. way of life.

59.

... sometimes select and memorize a few set ... BB p.87, Into Action

If not members of religious bodies, we sometimes select and memorize a few set prayers which emphasize the principles we have been discussing.

60.

... sometimes serious leak. BB p.148, To Employers

We hope our suggestions will help you plug up this sometimes serious leak.

61.

... sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment ... BB p.132, The Family Afterward

Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past.

62.

... sometimes singled out for posts of greater ... 12&12 p.124, Step Twelve

When by devoted service to family, friends, business, or community we attract widespread affection and are sometimes singled out for posts of greater responsibility and trust, we try to be humbly grateful and exert ourselves the more in a spirit of love and service.

63.

... sometimes slowly. BB p.84, Into Action

They are being fulfilled among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

64.

... sometimes still is -- are such activities to ... 12&12 p.170, Tradition Eight

The question was -- and sometimes still is -- are such activities to be branded as professionalism under A.A. tradition?

65.

... sometimes surprise us. BB p.78, Into Action

Approached in this way, the most ruthless creditor will sometimes surprise us.

66.

... sometimes thankless privilege of doing the group's ... 12&12 p.134, Tradition Two

Theirs is the sometimes thankless privilege of doing the group's chores.

67.

... sometimes the good is the enemy of ... 12&12 p.138, Tradition Two

'Bill, haven't you often said right here in this meeting that sometimes the good is the enemy of the best?

68.

Sometimes the man we are calling upon ... BB p.78, Into Action

Sometimes the man we are calling upon admits his own fault, so feuds of years' standing melt away in an hour.

69.

... sometimes the model of honesty when normal, ... BB p.140, To Employers

When drinking, or getting over a bout, an alcoholic, sometimes the model of honesty when normal, will do incredible things.

70.

Sometimes the swarming applicants would go for ... 12&12 p.148, Tradition Four

Sometimes the swarming applicants would go for all three floors.

71.

Sometimes there are cases where alcoholism is ... BB p.114, To Wives

Sometimes there are cases where alcoholism is complicated by other disorders.

72.

Sometimes there were other women. BB p.106, To Wives

Sometimes there were other women.

73.

Sometimes there were screaming delirium and insanity. BB p.107, To Wives

Sometimes there were screaming delirium and insanity.

74.

Sometimes these excuses have a certain plausibility, ... BB p.23, There Is A Solution

Sometimes these excuses have a certain plausibility, but none of them really makes sense in the light of the havoc an alcoholic's drinking bout creates.

75.

... sometimes they are distressingly acute. 12&12 p.117, Step Twelve

But just like all other societies, we do have sex and marital problems, and sometimes they are distressingly acute.

76.

Sometimes they demand that dad bring them ... BB p.123, The Family Afterward

Sometimes they demand that dad bring them back instantly!

77.

Sometimes, they got distressingly drunk and let ... 12&12 p.185, Tradition Twelve

Sometimes, they got distressingly drunk and let their groups down with a bang.

78.

Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, ... BB p.62, How It Works

Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.

79.

Sometimes they were so inaccessible that it ... BB p.107, To Wives

Sometimes they were so inaccessible that it seemed as though a great wall had been built around them.

80.

... sometimes this results in rebuffs and other ... 12&12 p.111, Step Twelve

Here again we are presented with the temptation to overmanage things, and sometimes this results in rebuffs and other consequences which are hard to take.

81.

Sometimes this was a tedious process; we ... BB p.48, We Agnostics

Sometimes this was a tedious process; we hope no one else will be prejudiced for as long as some of us were.

82.

... sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and ... 12&12 p.141, Tradition Three

At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery.

83.

... sometimes to Wednesday evening prayer meeting. BB p.172, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

From childhood through high school I was more or less forced to go to church, Sunday School and evening service, Monday night Christian Endeavor and sometimes to Wednesday evening prayer meeting.

84.

... sometimes today's excesses of negative emotion -- anger, ... 12&12 p.88, Step Ten

That is the emotional hangover, the direct result of yesterday's and sometimes today's excesses of negative emotion -- anger, fear, jealousy, and the like.

85.

... sometimes tragic things. BB p.132, The Family Afterward

We have been speaking to you of serious, sometimes tragic things.

86.

... sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis ... BB p.50, We Agnostics

Instead, we looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of wholesale condemnation.

87.

Sometimes we alcoholics have an idea that ... BB p.145, To Employers

Sometimes we alcoholics have an idea that people are trying to pull us down.

88.

Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but ... BB p.55, We Agnostics

Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there.

89.

Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that ... BB p.82, Into Action

Sometimes we hear an alcoholic say that the only thing he needs to do is to keep sober.

90.

Sometimes we sensed dimly that we were ... BB p.107, To Wives

Sometimes we sensed dimly that we were dealing with sick men.

91.

Sometimes we think fear ought to be ... BB p.67, How It Works

Sometimes we think fear ought to be classed with stealing.

92.

Sometimes we took a slightly different tack. 12&12 p.97, Step Eleven

Sometimes we took a slightly different tack.

93.

... sometimes were responsible for the whole pattern ... 12&12 p.80, Step Eight

We can go far beyond those things which were superficially wrong with us, to see those flaws which were basic, flaws which sometimes were responsible for the whole pattern of our lives.

94.

... sometimes wiser and more humble than this. 12&12 p.133, Tradition Two

True, founders and their friends are sometimes wiser and more humble than this.

95.

... sometimes you must start life anew. BB p.114, To Wives

But sometimes you must start life anew.

96.

Sometimes you will have to call a ... BB p.97, Working With Others

Sometimes you will have to call a doctor and administer sedatives under his direction.

Passages from the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc. The A.A. Preamble, copyright © The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., is reprinted with permission. Permission to reprint does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.

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