The big stones and the little stones.....

A college lecturer filled a large glass tube with big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?” he asked the students.

“Yes” came the reply in unison.

“No it isn’t” he said. “Look.” And he poured little stones into the tube, in between the big stones – right up to the top. “Is it full now?” he asked.

“Yes” said the students again.

“No” said the lecturer. “Look again.” And he poured gravel into the tube, between the little stones and the big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?”

“Probably not” they said.

Students like alcoholics (or addicts) are unusually slow to learn!

“You’re right to say ‘probably not’” said the lecturer, “Look” and he poured fine sand into the tube – between the gravel, the small stones and the big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?”

Rather gingerly, the students said “no” again.

“You’re right” said the lecturer as he poured a gallon of water into the tube – right up to the top. “Is it full now?”

“It is” they all concluded confidently.

“Spot on” said the lecturer. “It is full. So what does that prove?”

Blank faces all ‘round.

“Well, what it proves is this” he said. “When we put the big stones first – when we put the important things in our lives first we have room for all the rest – the smaller stones, the gravel, the fine sand and water, etc.

However, if I’d poured the water in first, or the fine sand……. Do you see what I’m telling you?”

They all nodded intelligently.

Likewise, as recovering alcoholics (or addicts), we have to put sobriety first in our lives too – when we do that, we also have room for all the other less important things – family, job, career, forming relationships, sorting out finances, etc.

Putting sobriety first in our lives, I put it to you, is the first and last step in recovery.


Another way of looking at it is this: "We have to be prepared to loose everything to protect our sobriety".


Think about that. "We have to be prepared to loose everything to protect our sobriety."

Awesome, isn't it?