“Sometimes I work the Program with my shoes on—making calls, going to meetings. Sometimes I work the Program with my shoes off—praying or meditating.”
I noted this quote from a speaker at an AA meeting because of its poetic simplicity. It reminds us that we can practice these principles in all our affairs.
Practicing the AA Program in Everyday Life
Whether we are:
- Making business calls
- Attending AA meetings
- Jumping on Zoom
- Helping another person
- Praying or meditating
…the Program remains active.
Recovery is not limited to the meeting room. The principles of Alcoholics Anonymous can shape how we speak, listen, work, respond to difficulties, and treat the people around us.
Finding Spiritual Barefootedness in Recovery
While I don’t literally take my shoes off to pray, the imagery of holiness invoked by that phrase is powerful.
Shod or barefoot, we can always choose to bring ourselves to a place of “spiritual barefootedness.”
This means approaching life with:
- Humility
- Openness
- Honesty
- Willingness
- Reverence
It is an inner posture rather than a physical one—a willingness to set aside pride, distraction, and self-importance so we can become conscious of something greater than ourselves.
An Action-Oriented Design for Living
When we practice love, tolerance, kindness, and sincerity in our daily activities, our conscious contact with God naturally improves.
The physical practice deepens the spiritual truth.
Ultimately, this speaker’s epigram perfectly captures our Design for Living: it is an action-oriented way of life.
We work the Program with our shoes on through service, fellowship, responsibility, and practical action. We work it with our shoes off through prayer, meditation, surrender, and reflection.
Both are essential.
Recovery asks us to carry spiritual principles into everything we do.
We continue working the Program while making phone calls, attending Zoom meetings, doing our jobs, helping others, and responding to the challenges of daily life. Every ordinary activity can become an opportunity to practice love, tolerance, kindness, and sincerity.
Books to Support Your Twelve Step Journey
If you’re looking to explore Step work, spiritual awakening, and personal transformation more deeply, check out The GEMS Series: 12-Step Shares, Notes and Thoughts. These books offer insights, reflections, and real-life recovery experience that complement the journey through the Twelve Steps.
The books in The GEMS Series: 12-Step Shares, Notes and Thoughts can be purchased through my estore or the major online book retailers. Look for GEMS, More GEMS, Still More GEMS, and More GEMS Revealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “working the AA Program with my shoes on” mean?
It refers to the active and practical side of recovery, including attending meetings, making phone calls, speaking with a sponsor, helping others, fulfilling responsibilities, and applying spiritual principles throughout the day.
What does “working the AA Program with my shoes off” mean?
It refers to quieter spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, reflection, surrender, and seeking conscious contact with God or a Higher Power.
What is spiritual barefootedness?
Spiritual barefootedness is a symbolic attitude of humility, openness, honesty, willingness, and reverence. It describes approaching spiritual life without pride, pretence, or defensiveness.
How can AA principles be practiced outside meetings?
AA principles can be practiced through honesty, patience, service, responsibility, kindness, tolerance, and sincerity. Workplaces, homes, relationships, and everyday conversations all provide opportunities to apply them.
Why are both action and meditation important in recovery?
Action helps turn spiritual ideas into visible behaviour, while prayer and meditation create space for reflection, guidance, and renewed perspective. Together, they support a balanced recovery life.
What does “practice these principles in all our affairs” mean?
It means carrying the spiritual values learned through the Twelve Steps into every area of life rather than limiting them to AA meetings or formal recovery activities.
How can daily actions improve conscious contact with God?
Practices such as kindness, honesty, tolerance, service, prayer, and meditation can reduce self-centred thinking and increase awareness of spiritual guidance.
Is the AA Design for Living action-oriented?
Yes. The AA way of life involves taking practical steps, changing behaviour, helping others, maintaining spiritual practices, and applying recovery principles to everyday situations.
Can addiction recovery books support spiritual growth?
Recovery books can offer reflection, encouragement, practical insights, and new perspectives. They may complement meetings, sponsorship, fellowship, prayer, and personal spiritual practice.
Where can readers find books by Andy C?
Books and recovery writing by Andy Crooks, writing as Andy C, can be featured through Happy Destiny Press and the4thdimension.ca.
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