The holidays season is here again. Fun for most but not easy for others. A couple years ago, I responded to a letter from AStruggling AA.@ I felt it was appropriate last year to reprint the letter and my reply and I am doing so again this year as newcomers to the AA program are a very special group whose members often feel very much in need of support during their first sober holiday season. Struggling AA wrote, AI=ve been clean and sober for a few months now but the approaching holidays seem to be making me practically immobilized. For me, the season was always a time to drink. I=m having trouble even thinking about going through the period without drinking. On the other hand, so many Christmases and New Years were fouled up by my drinking that I know I=ve got to go through it without touching a drop. Any helpful ideas?@

In my response, I noted that the holiday season is always a little tougher for the non-drinker in today=s society, with parties everywhere and everyone seemingly imbibing freely without a problem. It my seem to be a very dreary prospect, particularly to a new AA, but, I am assured him that many AAs are enjoying the happiest holidays of their lives (and, by the way, of their family=s lives) by being sober.

I then went on to relate a number of thoughts from a holiday tip sheet which we use at the Van Ost Institute. Here are 12 suggested ways for recovering alcoholics to keep the holiday season sober and joyous:

1. Line up extra AA activities for the holiday season. Arrange to take newcomers to meetings, answer telephones at a central office or visit patients in a rehab. Of course, don=t miss your own meetings, particularly your home group friends, especially newcomers. If you don=t have a place where you can throw a party, take one person to a diner and spring for coffee.
2. Keep your AA telephone list with you at all times. If a drinking urge or panic comes, postpone everything else until you have called an AA or your sponsor.
3. Find out about any special holiday parties, meetings or other celebrations, and go. If you are timid, take someone newer than you are.
4. Skip any drinking occasion that you are nervous about. Remember how clever you were at excuses when you were drinking? Now, put that talent to good use. No office party is as important as saving your life.
5. If you have to go to a party where there is drinking and you can=t take an AA with you, keep some candy handy.
6. Don=t think that you have to stay late. Plan in advance an Aimportant date@ that you must keep.
7. Go to a place of worship...any one.
8. Don=t sit around brooding. Catch up on those books, museums, walks, movies and letter writing which your previous drinking kept you from.
9. Enjoy the true beauty of holiday love and joy. Maybe you can=t give material things this year, but you can give your family your love and the gift of remaining sober.
10. Be good to yourself and, remember and live the acronym, H.A.L.T.... Don=t let yourself get Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired.
11. Follow the twelfth step of AA and reach out to help another find sobriety. Have the happy , sober holiday season!!