I'm new in town. I have some business here and I've been coming to this meeting for the last couple weeks. I've listened to a few of you stand up and tell your stories and tonight, I'd like to take my turn. Drinking damn near destroyed my life. I woke up one morning, took a look around・I was lying on the floor. I decided never to touch another drop. I've been sober ever since. I hear a lot of you talk about taking things one day at a time. As far as I'm concerned, that's a cop-out . You make a decision and you take charge of your life. You don't need a higher power to help you. You don't need a sponsor. What you need is strength of mind, willpower and character. Alcoholism is not a disease. It's a falling. You've turned it into a church. You worship at the altar of self-pity. I come to these rooms for one reason to remember what I don't want to become : helpless, impotent and weak. Thank you. As you were.