Felice W's journey in AA has greatly inspired other alcoholic women to try our way of life. Growing up as an adopted child whose older brothers made good at home and school life with seemingly little effort. Meanwhile, Felice struggled and was drawn to errant behavior and alcohol use at age 14, after her parents divorced. The escalation of family dysfunction that followed launched Felice into an adolescence in which alcohol, and later drugs, became her main coping tools. She continued to use until she finally got sober in AA at age 26. Her classic “what it was like” story was fraught with increasingly dire consequences until she finally hit a bottom deep enough to convince her to join AA. Though she stayed sober in the ensuing years, Felice still experienced two divorces, as well as other major challenges to her sobriety. But she stayed involved in the Program and AA’s core constituents pulled her through each time. As the years passed and the gifts of the Program continued to materialize, Felice found new meaning and purpose in her life, including her current marriage to a man whose long-term and rock-solid involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous continues to enrich both of their lives.

Felice’s story conveys a strong message of hope for anyone seeking long-term sobriety, whether they’re struggling with life’s challenges or currently basking in the sunlight of the spirit. Her upbeat enthusiasm and unabashed confidence in her own Program adds a good deal of power to Felice’s message. It certainly touched me and I believe it will touch you, too.

So please enjoy the next hour and five minutes of AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Felice W.

If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperbackfrom Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.

I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs and no one receives financial gain from the show. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. -Howard L.]