[MajestyJo]

One of the spiritual principles of Step One.

I had to learn to accept the fact that my son had inherited the disease of alcoholism. I am not sure if it is inherited or just the fact that we are often products of our environment. Perhaps a little bit of both, it really doesn't matter how you get it, it is acceptance of the fact that you have it.

I also had to accept my own disease, my caretaking and the need to live my life through other people. I was a Ms. Fix-It, who suffered from her own control, denial, dishonesty, etc. It was always easier to play the blame game, certainly much better than the shame game because I couldn't accept the fact that I didn't have the power to handle life on life's terms, that I found my self-worth through other people because I couldn't find it within myself, and that I had failed to take care of my son and that as a parent I had failed, not knowing that you can't pass on what you don't know.

Acceptance is the key to all of my problems today, when ....

2004