By Briann, Renascent Alumni

Step 8 calls us to make a list of all the people we have harmed. When my sponsor asked me to make mine and meet her for coffee, I took a deep breath.

The truth is, I had a really long list, and I bawled my eyes out writing it. It’s one thing to think about who you’ve wronged, but seeing it on paper humbled me a lot. I think I’ll always have a small voice in the back of my head that’s trying to convince me that maybe I can have “just one drink” – but seeing that list put everything in perspective. It enabled me to see very clearly that I will never be able to be a social drinker. The list of those I had harmed was the outcome of what will happen if I choose to drink – and if I start up again, that list will only continue to grow.

I took my list to my sponsor feeling nauseous and shaking, but I did it. Getting everything down on paper and saying it aloud to another human being was very cleansing for me.

Step 8 was so difficult, but it was also so clarifying. It was a truly healing part of this process.