I was 29 when I found this and it helped me stop, he explained what others couldn't understand. I hope you've managed

Congratulations!!

I'm looking for It, its good to see others understand

Thank you, Carlos.

Congratulations, Carlos! Keep up the vigilance. I am celebrating my two weeks sober and I feel so much better.

Only thing AA ever did for me was make me wanna get drunk. Every meeting I went to was depressing and deprecating. I did make it 90 days once... Didn't attend a single meeting.

@@ilovebutterstuff you wanted to get drunk because you wanted to get drunk. You're not a victim. Did you get a sponsor, did you go through the steps, did you sponsor others? If you didn't answer yes, yes, and yes you were never IN AA you were just around it

@@ilovebutterstuff Please don't discourage others from getting help in AA. I've seen it work miracles in the lives of many alcoholics

@@seanwilliams_31 --- I don't think I was implying that I was any kind of a victim, but I will go ahead and assume that victimhood, and having to bend the knee to one's own inadequacies is somehow a mortal sin to you. Don't get me wrong, I hold personal accountability in the highest regard, but your little 'checklist'? Laughable man. Truly laughable.

@@ilovebutterstuff Well. Now you know why AA didn't "work" for you.

He's NOT a flaming liberal so they wont allow him back unless his ratings are through the roof.

@@connormckenzie1762 good point

Feck yaaaaas!

You are so right!

@@connormckenzie1762 doesn't the Roseanne thing kind of mess up your ideology? Couldn't she have talked to her rabbi and then he could have called the Zionist cabal and they would have sorted it out yeah? Isn't that what you people believe?

Ha, me too man. 2 and a half years :)

Congrats. How did you do it?

Congratulations, man! I hope all is still well. 👊😃 ❤️

Stephen Silva Congratulations to all those who stay sober. I know that some people use the mantra one day at a time, but if that doesn't seem possible, try " One hour at a time". Not an alcoholic but had a different type of addiction. Hang in there, talk to people, take up running, weights, bicycling, walking, anything that causes you to concentrate on something else, even if it's pain, exhaustion, repetition or attention to detail. If you relapse, try again. Make changes to your home, apartment, move if possible to a different area? Sobriety is worth it.

great post. I remember watching this when I was all over the place. It helped me too Stephen.

Not when the sober are trapped in a house with the drinkers...

Tophef Tyr I was referring to this setting with the audience. But I agree with you as well.

@@topheftyr533 Nah, friend. No jokes in there.

Nah, the story's for everyone.

I'm not a drinker but I didn't laugh at all. Bless him💚

Yeap! Unfortunately (or not...) it is an issue with someone's mind, not necessarily the substance itself.

@@EduDixie that vital point has gotten very obscured since the mental health industry took over drug and alcohol treatment.

If you like this, google his talk in the AA meeting. Heartbreaking and inspiring.

@@EduDixie Obsession of the mind and allergy of the body.

@@VCT3333 Thank you recommending that cause I never would have found it! Man gives a great talk.

What'd u do

@@markonino12 I got my a** into AA, go to meetings, work the steps every day. It’s simple but effective, for me at least.

Agree 100%

He probably warned the audience prior that he was going to do this- and not to clap. I was looking for the applause too. So they had to be asked. And the applause lights didnt get turned on either. I was moved by this as well. I' m sitting in my own urine watching this. At least I THINK it's my own urine.....

You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerin plant.

Absolutely! I miss Craig so much - his honesty and humility made his show the best ever!

Yup! That was a very "sober" monologue indeed (pun intended).

Hang in there! One day at a time! New playground, new playthings, new playmates! Best Wishes from Ohio, home state of Dr. Bob Smith.

KentA Mitchell thanks for that. 24 at a time

Like the Doobie Brothers sang.... minute by minute

@@johnkeerie9083 Stay strong. You are not alone.

Sending out much love and admiration for your strength

T Hobbs Good Job. That’s so great. And God Bless you!!!

My dad quilt July 21, 1989. Still taking it day by day. God bless you.

6-7-89. This date is the most important of my life. Craig is eloquent and REAL. Happy to he in the same club with him & with you. Class of '89!! One day at a time.

Congrats on 30 years

Keep coming back

+James Woe Are you still sober?

no. im practicing a more controlled approach to my drinking. But, one day, after working outside in the heat, i just had to have a few drinks. I made it 14 days before i caved.

ROFL, you try punching out God yet? Your a mild alcohlic. Do you feel a demonic urge when you have a drink? It's overwhelming feelling. It won't stop. Can you relate?

+James Woe Are you practicing controlled drinking? how old are you? I'm 27 btw,

Controlled drinking is like putting a shotgun in your mouth and then being suprised that you blew your head off.

I distinctly remember watching this. I Thank God I never had that problem with alcohol.

HELL YES! GO YOU DUDE! MAKE IT TO MANY MORE! 😎

One day at the time. From Portugal, God bless

One at a time...

Sometimes it's just one minute at a time.. It's all good though...

congrats!!

Agreed 110%! No preaching, just honesty and humility from an AMAZING man!

Yep… I’ll show them, I’ll hurt me!!!😂🤣‼️my God ! We ARE powerless and have unmanageable lives

God.

So sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry for your loss, alcoholism is a life of suffering. I think about suicide sometimes because sometimes I don't think I'll ever be able to stop. I'm sober right now and I'm back to trying again, but it's ruined my relationships and I've lost so many jobs because I would relapse and show up to work drunk. I hope I can get it down this time I start intensive outpatient treatment soon if I don't succeed this time I'm putting myself in rehab.

@@REN-dj5sg Hang in there buddy! One step at a time. I don't know you, I'm from Brazil, but I do hope you get better. I'll be rooting for you brother

No, we dont. If you truly love and respect yourself, you dont have to go on a downward spiral to find out Who you really are. Its this "intensity and viscerality" worship we have that produces all The problems we face in Society today. Strive to be The most lightweighted and light hearted person you can with a decent sense or worth and you Will see how everything in your Life Will fall into place. You dont need to be anybody's hero, not even of yourself. Live intelligently, not intensily.

It's true what matthew is saying. You really do have to die to your old self completely, in order to truly start anew. If you have an old house built on a poor fountain, you can't just keep adding on additions and expect the original problem to be overshadowed. You have to go back and tear apart the old in order to make way for the new. "Don't put new wine in old wine skins"

@@fauberkaupfmann982 I think it's common knowledge that an alcoholic in active addiction doesn't love or respect themselves. I should know.

Couldn't possibly agree more.

Any friend of bill is a friend of mine

So true. I drink alcohol but have many friends who are taking it one day at a time. You will never talk to more straight shooting(and funny) people on the Earth than recovered alcoholics.

I stopped in 1980 when i was 21. Craig is spot on

Joshua Carroll Exactly. Big difference between doing the work and meeting maintenance.

Well done 🌷

Me, too. I simply cannot drink responsibly. It's not possible....We are out there.

The Ancient Lantern April 1st...?

No; it's not some kinda joke...from some kinda month... My friend quit smoking on Flag Day (years ago)... if he'd known it was Trump's birthday, I'm sure he'd be smoking to this day! Oh great...all jokes.... the day you decide...is the day you decide!

The Ancient Lantern, right on. Good for you, and keep it up.

People like him sharing their stories help me every day. I cannot drink responsibly and live any semblance of a life. Unfortunately it took me 18 years and various legal issues to realize the problem was me and my thoughts/ feelings.

I hope you are still well

He sounds Scottish lol

@@NB-sq7ui He is Scottish, born and raised. Thought he's spent much of the last 25-30 years or so in the U.S., and is now a U.S. citizen.

NO GIVE US BACK CRAIG 😡🥰🥺

Never 😂

Nah keep Craig, you need him more! We have lots of Craigs to help us out

Kimmel and Fallon SUCK especially Kimmil

It’s a Blessing how many people he’s helped. How many people he’s reached. I’m pretty sure he had no idea of how strong his testimony was going to impact people. Thanks A lot.

Edward Kenway I noticed that too

Thick!

You know what I like about this monologue? This entire talk embodies the 11th tradition and "attraction rather than promotion." Not once does he say he's in AA. Obviously, people got what he meant when he said look at the front of the phone book, and he probably knew they would... but I bet those people who laughed and aren't in recovery didn't think twice about it and soon forgot. The people who that line will stick with are the people who heard this story, wanted help, and began to feel hopeful that recovery could be possible.

it is a god thing to break the cycle. and i hope the best 4 you! ONE day at the time.

I'm going to my first AA meeting today. Thank you, every single one of these comments inspires me for how familiar they sound.

@@Tridentus I have 4 months and 13 days today

@@brittanynelson9114 your body (liver) is telling u something w the bloody nose. Liver can rejuvenate if u stop drinking unless its advanced cirrhosis. I know and Im healing eachday Im sober.

Worked for me, 24 years now. You don't HAVE to do anything in AA, just keep an open mind; take what you can use and leave the rest.

i know how u feel man. 3 DUI's later I'm 28 no job, parties over I'm an alcholic

Hang in there Adam, you are not Alone, far from it....try to speak to someone in recovery....A.A. really does work (if you work it), and you can meet some great people....Take care and YOU CAN get Sober, that's a Promise..

A.A. it works I agree... go to meetings ...meet people..get a sponsor ...and get to working on those steps...life changing for myself! AA is for people who want it ..not people who need it...so show up if youre willing

Hi Guys.. Thank you for the replies. I will be 3 months sober on the 12 of August. I feel so much better physically. Mentally thats going to take a little more work. Dealing with some depression and still wanting to isolate but I am going to keep working hard. I think I need to go to more AA meetings. Good for getting out and building relationships.

Eamonn Nolan Thank you

I like that...Ive got the sky back and I no longer have the need to fly

I feel like Craig is doing a lead on public TV.and I love it.

I really like that. I can really relate to that. Thanks.

Robert, how are you today, if I may ask? Love. Henry.

As of Dec 27 2020 i am 245 days sober.

i'm so glad overcame what you went through. stay strong and much love

John Ryan Good for you! I've been sober since March 26th 2014. You are right. Giving it up is so much better. Many more too you!

John Ryan great job!

Coming up on 20 years...good on ya!

Lame.

Congrats on 20 years.

I read it, and thank you for the words, helps tremendously. So sick of Alcohol running my life instead of Me.

You'll get there, hold on!

Don’t give up. Trust me, if I can do it you can too. 1+ liter of vodka a day for years. Google AA speaker recordings. Buy snacks. Drink lots of tea and water. You can DO THIS.

Hang in there. There is never a future in drinking. Nothing good comes out of it. Seasons pass, tough times don’t last only tough people. ✌️

Look i do not know, i may never meet you in person, please know we have all been where you are . Find help however you can. Do not be afraid to cry in front of people or ask for help. It works if you work it.

It took two DUIs in a six month period last year to finally quit--and an ankle bracelet that detects even the slightest bit of alcohol. It'll be one year in a few weeks. Nearly every day I think of how I could easily be in prison for decades instead of home and sober. Don't remember it, but in court the arresting officer in the first DUI stated that luckily for him--and me--he glanced up and swerved before I hit him head on doing around fifty. I blew a .25. Six months later, having not learned my lesson, I pulled over off a highway and a cop drove up. I told him I was too trashed to drive. He'd seen me get out of the car. I blew a .39 first, then, at the station, a .40. Him and his buddies said I should be dead. The judge said it as well. Anyway, thank God it happened. After a few months of eating well, my head being clear, being active, etc., I felt better than I'd felt in a few decades. I finally realized I'm one of those people that can't live with the excuses anymore, no "weekend warrior" BS, no more "I'll cut down" or anything like that. I simply cannot drink. So hang in there, don't drink for a few weeks, eat well, you might have trouble sleeping, but stick with it. You'll thank yourself for it in the long run and you'll get to know the old you again, the one who wasn't shackled by a liquid that does you more harm than good. It's weird at first--being around people drinking--but the more you're sober in various situations the more confident you'll become. And those around you will be as blown away as you are, believe me. You'll do it, don't worry. It's a process, that's all, and the longer you go without the easier it will be. And soon enough you'll actually be able to laugh about it like our man here. I have more pissing myself and hiding the fact that I've pissed myself stories than anybody. On that note, good luck to you.

Hey buddy. 5 years sober now?

Tommy Petersen I think the main reason people bash AA is the whole accepting god thing. I think they feel religion should be seperate from a recovery program

dick van dyke yeah, I went through that too. Finally I came to the conclusion that dealing with the "God" thing was better than dealing with the "dead" thing or the "jail" thing or the "on the street" thing. I eventually found a spiritually and God that worked for me. I stopped trying to control and question stuff just for the sake of not wanting to be a part of this crazy "AA cult" thing. I did not go to AA because I saw the light. I went because I had nowhere else to go and no one wanted anything to do with me. Over time this program gave me my life back and I finally learned how to help others and that "helping" is as much a part of my recovery as anything else. For me, and I can only speak for me, AA ( or rather the people in it) cared more for me than I did and taught me finally how to apply AA experiences to the real world. ( if you can survive an AA business meeting you can handle anything! ) Good luck you, it's a great life.

***** yeah you're totally right but I figure if I can help someone because they know I'm part of it then fine. But you're not wrong, I should be a bit more discreet.

The thing is that they're downright atheist and not agnostic and there's a major difference of course and anything that smacks of "God" is "religion" to them and so they balk at the word, but then again too 12 step members balk at the word Jesus too because they confuse the one of the churches and the one I of learned as the result of the steps that it's nothing of the sort, because in my Experience with the steps "heaven" seems awfully synonymous with Nirvana, when I did my 4th step after being one of those people that finally reached a wall with "my way of doing things" it was like dying while I was still alive, which is why the spiritual masters say "Die before you die"because therein lies humility, acceptance, and surrender along with the rest of the stages of death. Amazing what you find out doing an honest and sincere inventory.

***** This very much relates to me. If you of an anti-bullshit (aka religion) nature, check out SMART recovery programs. Treatment for addicts from the 21st century. Actually, I recommend this to ANY addict because they realize that some addictions can be managed, instead of the blanket treatment of abstinence and willful ignorance from AA programs.

give yourself a pat on the back,but always beware!!!!!

+Jackle61 A renowned hematologist told me that I would never be able to take another drink. I'm proving him wrong with one glass of whiskey at a time.

David Suspended You must be seeing the wrong doctor. A hematologist works with blood, a hepatologist works with the liver.

Jackle61 Battling the alcohol with liver problems myself. Bless you.

Can you explain some of your habit and story? How did you recover from liver disease?

Well said. I'm a recovered alcoholic, 2 and a half years sober.

Now....3.

Mark Foster happy b day

Paul hello. How are you today?

Keep going mate I'm also Scottish from Fife. I'm 7 months old.

How is it going?

@@andresbarriga5305 May not be to me but I'm the comment above. I'm still sober. It sucks but my life's better because of it.

@@acloserlook6133 Good for you. Life is good if one let it be good.

That's awesome! Still going strong?

He did a great lead here, didn't he?

@@CaliforniaCarpenter7 4 years last month

@@pat3765 Hell yeah, man! Same here, congrats!

You get to a point in happy sobriety that you absolutely love an AA meeting.. so going to one almost every day of the week is no chore.. Funny how a person feels.. I thought I would be bored And sad and my life would be boring but I experienced the exact opposite.. please please please anyone out there with a problem just open your mind and try it...

Greatest "comedic" talkshow host, perhaps. Take a look at some of Dick Cavett’s shows and see what you think. Cheers.

Could you explain? I didn't get that

@@weary_traveller111Craig is referring to an organization called "Alcoholics Anonymous", commonly known as "AA".

I had tears in my eyes listening to this for the first time. Fifteen years sober.

Amazing! Well done!!!

Mandy Spaswick thank you

don't wait 20 plus yrs from now and quit do it now for your own sake for your health etc..... and you'll never regret it, and that's a promise.

How are you doing now if you don't mind me asking?

You teenager... Perfect time to be smached every week end

@@chrisredig1381 Being smashed every weekend isn't alcoholism

Strength with you

Daily reprieve

Good luck to you.

Roach Around I keep relapsing and always feel like shit. I'm tired of waking up going to my job feeling sick just getting thru the day to drink again. when I stop I feel good . still sad and lonely and bored but I tell myself I'm not gonna drink today . it's a day by day struggle. it's no joke . alcohol is the worst thing to enter my life. it's destroyed my relationships with loved ones.

Lunchbox1017 it's interesting how we look at relapse like it's a failure but it's actually pretty normal. I think it's important to address why you drink in the first place and why you feel guilty for relapsing. If you don't fix why you drink in the first place you might always gonna risk a relapse . A lot of alcoholics seem to get on better with an antidepressant medication because alcohol has been depressing the system for so long it has trouble coping. Every single thing in this life is a choice. Even our own happiness is a choice if you really think about it.

Lunchbox1017 Brother, reading your words...is like I wrote them myself.

and compassionate too.. a lot of people were making fun of Brittney at the time & it all got pretty ugly. But this gentleman put a different take on the situation basically asking people to be kind, always.

Keep it going because I know from a brother who is an alcoholic, who is luckily 4 years off the drink, it is a bollox of a thing when it gets out of control. I'm sorry for the language but that's just the way it is.

Making A Life Work I quit nicotine and pain pills too. crazy huh.

Pathetic

Jeez dude how much you make

holdmybeer awesome amigo 👏🏻

Kate Don't drink or you'll ruin yoir beatiful looks

How are you!

@@sayedalazam4228 still on the wagon bb lol. Being responsible tho. Working hard. Having a few drinks each night, nothing crazy 💪🏻❤️🤙