Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

[retteacher]

Hi Everyone: I've been cleaning my internal house lately after the 5th step. This morning I went out for breakfast w/my daughter & told her about my AA program. After the ER visit in Feb., she knew I was going to AA, but I don't think she realized how involved I've gotten. My daughter (age 35) & I are very close, but in addition to being a dear friend, I am & always will be a mother to her, i.e. someone she can depend on consistently. She kind of idealizes me sometimes, & it's now time for her to see me as the vulnerable human being that I am at times...no more super woman for me. She started off by saying that in being an AAer, I was being too hard on myself. I had to explain to her the very, very negative effect that AL had on me. While we came to a genuine understanding, I'll continue to be the person she goes to for help when she needs it. It's almost as if claiming my alcoholism is a gift to myself. I can make healing myself from it the priority it should be.

Anyhow, those are my thoughts for today. I hope all of you are doing fine. I'll be back.

Mary

[gyco]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

congrats teach remember dont go to fast on the steps,there a life time program,its nice to see or read others have good relationships with family,in my teaching s over the years very few people with no alcohol problem can relate,to one who does,even for us to suggest for them to get help by taking programs in,to understand, many times its an insult to them,like we've just turn the situation around possibly suggesting they mt be the problem,im glad its working for you ,hang tuff gyco

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Gyco: You sound like you might be a psychotherapist or something like that. If you do work w/families, I'm sure you see dysfunction that doesn't involve AL. I'm glad I have something that can help me relate better to my loved ones.

As far as rushing myself through the steps: I took them on after that incident in Feb., because I needed something to help me heal. I know that I will be doing them again & again. That's the way they are designed (or should I say conceived of?). In my opinion, they are guideline for life. I'll use them as such. I think this first round of step work in AA has been vital in order for me to get into the program & on w/my life.

Mary

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Everyone: Is Doggy Girl visiting w/her parents' & helping out there? Or is she having her surgery at this time? It's a while since I've seen here beagle here. Mary

PS: Sorry... I don't get around as much as I used to.

[Cinders]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Mary,

I don't know where DG is. I hope she is doing okay with family and health.

If you see this, DG, give us a shout!!

Mary, you not coming by here so often is a testament to how well you are doing!! :l:l

It makes me happy to see you finally able to wrest this beast to the ground.

Love,
Cindi

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Wedding Bell Booze:
Happy Tuesday y'all. I returned from a wedding in Atlanta last night. Booze was everywhere, Friday night dinner/after party, Saturday wedding/reception/after party, Sunday brunch. But I made it AF.
Went to meetings Sunday and Monday morning. That is the great thing about AA, one can always find a meeting and be welcomed with no issues.
Grateful that I made it.
Love and Peace,
Phil

[Cinders]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Phil,

Glad you are here.

Cindi

[AAthlete]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Guys, just remember that the Big Book tell us that immediately after making our Step 3 decision 'we launch out on a course of vigorous action' (pg 64). That doesn't mean that we take our time - Bill put launch, vigorous & action all within a single sentence for a reason. He wants us to work the steps as quickly as we reasonably can.

Mary, that is a wonderful story and a true demonstration of what the program can do for people. It's not about simply stopping drinking - it's about fundamentally changing the people that we are, and by doing so acting as an inspiration for others. I hear it over and over again in meetings - people saying they are grateful that they were alcoholics because through AA they were able to change and become the kind of person the truly wanted to be. Sounds like you are well on your way!

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Hi everyone - thank you for asking after me. It's not surgery time yet - for me or Dad (both are next week) but life have been very busy - I just posted more on that in the Daily thread. I have kept up with AA meetings through this time as a priority - they really help me stay centered in some way. Just haven't had as much time to post, which I miss! My own step work has come to a grinding halt and AA - I'm SO aware of it as I am at the point of embarking on step four. I simply must make a little time each day for it based on the quote you quoted from the Big Book! Mary, I need to take your 15 minutes per day no more no less advice to heart.

Mean time, Mary I am so happy for you about the direction your life is heading now.

Phil - HUGE congratulations on using the tools and the AA program to help you make it through the wedding AF. :yougo::yougo::yougo: We CAN do this!

Hi Cinders and Gyco too! I'm off to get my hair colored, but don't tell anyone I'm really gray, OK?

Thanks as always for your never ending support here. It sure means a lot to me!

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Phil: You are terrific! I know how tempting it can be when the AL is flowing & everyone is drinking. I have found that I have a good time anyway. I wouldn't want that kind of temptation to happen every week, but I can stand it once in a while. We too are going to a wedding in mid-July. I know I'll have a plan & will be fine. Isn't it amazing how the meetings work. I'm not sure how, but they just do.

Cindi: I'm always so happy to see you here. Keep coming. Last Sat. I went to a meeting & the topic was relapse (something I'm very acquainted with). Even the folks w/a lot of sobriety went through a period of relapsing over & over. It takes time. I think when I was very, very new in AA, I was so starry-eyed about it that I didn't realize how common relapse is. It seems like it's almost part of the process for some of us. So, I hope you (like me) will put the past behind & move forward.

Mary

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

DG: Keep us informed about your & Dad's upcoming surgeries. Good luck w/everything. And yes...the 15 min. @ day strategy works great. You get a little dose of program wo/feeling like it interferes w/living life. Mary

[Winefree]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Hi Everyone.
Phil good for you on staying AF. I haven't had any trials like that yet, so I don't know what I will do.

Today is 60 days for me! Without MWO, AA and my counselor I don't think I would have gotten this far.
Thanks everyone for being here and all your words of wisdom and encouragement.

Winefree

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

WF: Yay! I'm happy for you. Don't you feel just like a new person? Mary

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

Everyone: I'm starting step 7. Steps 6 & 7 are reflective steps. I've been working to have my character defects removed, & I can see more & more how the steps work as I work them. That talk I had w/my daughter on Monday was another piece of honesty I needed the share. It wasn't easy...dishonesty (especially in the form of hiding & holding back) is my first & worst character defect. However, I again feel that weight being lifted off my shoulders. I can see how the secrets we keep inside really trigger the drinking.

Last night's speaker meeting was very inspiring...a 22 year sober person. I was again reminded of how fragile sobriety can be. An active member of that group who had quite a lot of sobriety went up to get a 24 hour chip. That's an indication of a slip. She seemed quite emotional. I did notice how supportive & accepting the other members of the meeting were. I guess we've all been there, so there's no judgement.

Love, Mary

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of June 29 - July 5

WF, congrats on 60 days that seems HUGE to me.
At today's 630am meeting there was a 20 year old girl. She is 9 months sober. I told her she was saving herself about 30 years of s*&% by entering the program so young.
It is amazing to me.
Love and Peace,
Phil