Forgiveness Step-by-Step
Thursday October 16, 2025; 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
A Bay Area SAA Zoom Pop-Up Workshop
Meeting ID: 469 590 2399 — Passcode: tP7A8e
“The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.”
William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
Not a lecture. Not a panel.
Workshop participants will share perspectives (experience, strength, and hope) on forgiveness for each step (as far as we can go in an hour).
Those who wish will “chat” their views. Chat will be saved and used as basis for an Out of the Fog article. Anyone wishing to get a copy of the chat may send email to franktopper@sbcglobal.net. Zoom names will be stripped off the chat to ensure anonymity.
Workshop format
- Participants “chat” their understanding and perspective on how forgiveness (self or others) relates to a step and/or give a short personal example.
- Participants may then comment on what they read in the chat. Additional ideas and perspectives are captured.
AGENDA
- Agenda and ground rules review
- Review a definition of forgiveness — “forgiveness” is primarily a process of self-releasefrom resentment and anger toward oneself or others for past harms related to addiction.
- What might you add to this definition?
- What does forgiveness in action look like or feel like?
- What is the payoff of forgiveness in your experience?
- How does forgiveness relate to Step 4? (chat understanding; discuss add ideas)
• Repeat for steps 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (as far as possible)
- Create forgiveness prayer ideas: pick a favortie
- Workshop debrief “That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness… For it is by forgiving that one is forgiven”
from the Prayer of St Francis
