Portland Sober Living, Detox & Treatment Directory

“Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.” — Alcoholics Anonymous (1939) · Chapter 5 · How It Works

From the opening of Chapter 5 — the passage read aloud at the start of thousands of meetings every day, just before the Twelve Steps are listed.

Most of us tried moderation, geography changes, and willpower-only long before we tried surrender. Those were the half measures. This line isn’t a scolding — it’s a relief. It says you can stop negotiating. Standing at the turning point simply means being done bargaining with the thing that’s beating you. Today, notice one place you’re still holding back “a little,” and consider what letting go of that last reservation might feel like.

Quote from the 1939 first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (public domain). Reflection original to portlandsober.com. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.