A Different Slant
I PROBABLY have one of the
shortest stories in this whole volume and it is short because there is one point I wish to
get over to an occasional man who may be in my position.
Partner in one of this country's nationally known concerns, happily married with fine
children, sufficient income to indulge my whims and future security from the financial
standpoint should paint a picture in which there would be no possibility of a man becoming
an alcoholic from the psychological standpoint. I had nothing to escape from and I am known
as a conservative, sound business man.
I had missed going to my office several times while I tapered off and brought myself to
sobriety. This time, though, I found I could not taper off, I could not stop and I had to be
hospitalized. That was the greatest shock to my pride I ever had. Such a blow that I made
the firm resolve to never again taste as much as one glass of beer. Careful thought and
analysis went into that decision.
The doctor at this hospital told me vaguely of the work of men who called themselves
Alcoholics Anonymous and asked if I wanted one of them to call upon me. I was sure I needed
no outside help, but in order to be polite to the doctor and hoping he would forget it, I
assented.
I was embarrassed when a chap called
at my house one evening and told me about himself. He quickly sensed my slight resentment
and made it plain to me that none of the crowd were missionaries, nor did they feel it their
duty to try to help anyone who did not want help. I think I closed the talk by saying I was
glad I was not an alcoholic and sorry he had been bothered by me.
Within sixty days, after leaving the hospital the second time, I was pounding at his door,
willing to do anything to conquer the vicious thing that had conquered me.
The point I hope I have made is-even a man with everything from the material standpoint, a
man with tremendous pride and the will power to function in all ordinary circumstances can
become an alcoholic and find himself as hopeless and helpless as the man who has a multitude
of worries and troubles.