Road to Recovery

Description

Hi, My Name Is Bill  |  by J. J. Jonas

This poem captures the humble beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous through the meeting of Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. It traces how one desperate conversation between two struggling men sparked a global movement of hope and healing. At its heart, it is a story of brokenness transformed through honesty, connection, and the simple courage to say, “Hi, my name is Bill.”

The Woman Behind the Coffee Cups  |  by J. J. Jonas

This poem tells the bittersweet story of Lois Wilson, wife of AA co-founder Bill Wilson, whose heartache and resilience led her to create Al-Anon. Through scenes of humor and heartbreak, it honors her legacy of healing families and transforming how society understands addiction. Lois Wilson spends years managing the damage of her husband’s drinking, then discovers that his sobriety has not healed the families left behind. Through Lois’s frustration and resolve, J. J. Jonas recounts the founding of Al-Anon and its radical lesson that loved ones deserve a recovery of their own.

Gardens in the Desert  |  by J. J. Jonas

This narrative poem traces Betty Ford’s journey from private struggle to public courage, revealing how her radical honesty broke the silence around addiction. Through founding the Betty Ford Center, she transformed shame into healing and left a legacy of hope that continues to guide countless people on the road to recovery. Behind Betty Ford’s polished public image are alcohol, pills, fear, and the strain of perfection. J. J. Jonas follows her decision to speak openly about addiction and establish the Betty Ford Center, where desert ground becomes a fitting image for honesty transforming shame into treatment and hope.