As a Los Angeles taxi driver during the 1980s, many “adventures” took place calling for immediate use of Step Ten, for instance: Drunks vomiting in the back seat, passengers who take off running to avoid paying. One mentally ill guy announced he had no money but just wanted to go for a ride which cost me about ten dollars on the meter. A rich family after a thirty-mile trip to Los Angeles which included my heavy luggage handling left no tip. After these “adventures” I was naturally experiencing anger. Maybe worse!

I have learned that when negative emotions begin to take over, Step Ten has taught me what to do. Step Ten is indeed an all-day-long step! Its rewards are beyond belief: “The problem (mental Obsession) has been removed. It does not exist for us.” (p. 85) That is so long aI remain in a fit spiritual condition—Step Ten allows this to happen.

Luckily, AA had taught me that repeated thoughts of anger (resentment) could threaten my sobriety—but what to do? This is where page 84 from the Big Book came in handy. It said to ask God, at once, to remove my anger and then to discuss my defect or shortcoming with someone (LA has clubhouses galore so “at once” was no problem). Lastly it suggests: “We resolutely turned our thoughts to someone we can help.” I think this could be a prayer for someone, or even planning a birthday gift. Bill Wilson’s Oxford Group mentor, Reverend Sam Shoemaker, summed up AA as: “Out of self, into God, into others.”

AA has provided the ability to control my mind, to some degree—at least better than before. I like to think before I think! When I feel thoughts of selfishness, dishonesty, resentment or fear coming to consciousness, I go to God for help. A simple statement such as, “Be still and know that I am God,” seems to calm me down enough to stymie destructive thoughts. What freedom!