The two key principles of the first step in AA are brutal honesty—admitting we are powerless over alcohol—and the willingness to do whatever it takes to stay sober. On October 3, 1984, I made a promise to myself—a promise as monumental as the task ahead. I committed to lifelong sobriety, not just for my sake but for the well-being of my entire family. 

The most important part of Step 2 in AA is the willingness to start the process of believing that a power greater than ourselves can help. In my own journey, I didn’t find belief overnight—it started with keeping an open mind and trusting that something beyond my own control could guide me forward.

Step 3 is a crucial milestone in recovery, but at first, trusting in anything beyond myself felt foreign. It required learning to surrender control and placing faith in a higher power—even without fully understanding what that meant.