Hi, I’m Sandra, and I’m an alcoholic.
There was a time when I thought service meant something formal—secretary, chairperson, big responsibilities. But in AA, service starts much smaller. It’s picking up chairs. Making coffee. Saying “Hi” to the new person who looks terrified.
My sponsor told me, “When you’re in your head, get into service.” And she was right. Service pulls me out of self-pity and into connection. It reminds me that I have something to give—even when I feel empty.
Eventually, I took on a home group commitment. Then I sponsored someone. And slowly, I realized: the more I give in AA, the freer I become.
If you’re feeling stuck or selfish, try service. It doesn’t need to be big—it just needs to be willing. You’ll get more than you give. Every time.
Thanks for letting me share.
Would you consider writing a “3-Minute AA Talk” for us? Our community would love to hear from you. Submit your 3-minute AA talk ideas to centraloffice@santafeaa.org and we’ll include it in a future posting.