Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

[retteacher]

Hi Everyone: I'm starting this off quickly, as I have a million things to do. Last night's BB meeting was on the 12th step: "Working w/Others." If there wasn't that philosophy in AA, there wouldn't be the kind of recovery there is today. I thank God that 12th step work is taken so seriously.

I'll be back in touch. A special "hi" to Phil & Cindi. I haven't seen you lately. Or maybe I just missed some of your posts.

Mary

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Good morning and Mary, thank you for getting us started for the week. I too am grateful that Step 12 is part of all this. I am getting tremendous benefit on many levels from the "old timers" who are still active in AA executing the 12th step. I am grateful they are there to help me stay sober and learn these new skills that are improving the quality of my life. I find it so reassuring to spend time with people who have managed many many years of continuous sobriety. If they can, maybe I can too.

Here is the link to the Daily Readings for those interested who may not have it book marked yet: Daily Recovery Readings

I like the 24-hour reading today about "taking it easy." This ended up as the topic at the 5AM nearby meeting today where I also see Sister on Mondays. It was interesting - it seems every person there without exception has issues with "extremes." We were not only extreme with our drinking, but with other substances (nicotine and even food for me and others, and stuff like prescription or street drugs for some). We also discussed the emotional extremes us alkies / addictive personality types tend to go to. For me, it was always extreme anger - very disproportionate to the "offense." Or extreme martyrdom - "I'm so under appreciated for the vast amount that I do..." Extreme self pity, etc. So "taking it easy" is something I need to work at in many areas of my life to achieve balance and moderation. Moderation of alcohol consumption is not something I will ever try again, but I need to continue to work on emotional moderation. I am much more content in my sobriety if I am "taking it easy" with the world around me along the way.

My work is starting up again. In addition to reading Step 8 in the Big Book daily, I am to pull out my harms list from step 4 and make the list of names for Step 8. Sister expects to review this list with me around the start of October so I have an exact plan for each amend that I will be making. She specifically instructed me NOT to start on any amends before we talk. I haven't known her long but she sure has me figured out. So I have to "take it easy" and not get ahead of myself.

Happy holiday for those in the US who have the day off! Strength and hope..

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

DG: I love "Easy Does It," as I'm:
-an alcoholic
-an activity junkie
-a perfectionist
-a martyr
-an overachiever
-a control freak
-et al

I too had a sponsor who said that working the steps is not a race or a contest. I had to slow down, do all the readings, write, reflect, & otherwise be in preparation mode. This is not easy for me, because I like to "get things done."

I applaud you for the systematic work you are doing on the steps. The benefits are so great, as not to be measured. I feel such a sense of peace & liberation, even in the midst of a complicated life.

Love, Mary

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Everyone: Last night, I went to an Alanon meeting. It's the same 12 steps but a little different focus. The people at the meeting have been affected by alcoholism but are not ALs themselves. There's a tendency for Alanons to keep the focus on the alcoholic instead of themselves, which doesn't do much for moving their own program forward. We discussed the 9th step last night. Most of the people there had never done it, & I felt were quite afraid of the effort & possible embarrassment involved.

Without breaking my own AA anonymity, I shared about the benefits of working the 8th & 9th steps. The liberation is wo/measure. Revealing our deepest, darkest secrets (as long as it doesn't harm anyone else) is the foundation upon which we can receive the promises of the program. Whenever I talk about doing my 9th step, I continue to get a lump in my throat...it's that emotional for me.

I've been very fortunate in getting a sponsor to help me through this process. Some people have a hard time finding one, so I'm betting my HP had a hand in it in my case. If anyone out there is wondering about the steps, I can only say that they have been life changing for me.
-I do have a new freedom & happiness.
-I don't crave AL or have any urges.
-I can stand up for myself wo/feeling guilty.
-I don't worry nearly as much as I used to.

I'm coping w/my husb's confinement as well as can be expected. He might be able to drive by next week & is learning to cope w/daily life a little better each day. I'm busy, but I'm going to my meetings & reading here at MWO. I thank you all for your sharings. I can never express how important MWO has been for me. I would never have been able to break out of my denial wo/you all.

Mary

PS: A big hello to all of you I haven't seen for a while. I'm sure your "on the road." Cindi, Phil, Chief, I hope you check in & read now & then.

[gyco]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Doggygirl;710152 wrote: Good morning and Mary, thank you for getting us started for the week. I too am grateful that Step 12 is part of all this. I am getting tremendous benefit on many levels from the "old timers" who are still active in AA executing the 12th step. I am grateful they are there to help me stay sober and learn these new skills that are improving the quality of my life. I find it so reassuring to spend time with people who have managed many many years of continuous sobriety. If they can, maybe I can too.

Here is the link to the Daily Readings for those interested who may not have it book marked yet: Daily Recovery Readings

I like the 24-hour reading today about "taking it easy." This ended up as the topic at the 5AM nearby meeting today where I also see Sister on Mondays. It was interesting - it seems every person there without exception has issues with "extremes." We were not only extreme with our drinking, but with other substances (nicotine and even food for me and others, and stuff like prescription or street drugs for some). We also discussed the emotional extremes us alkies / addictive personality types tend to go to. For me, it was always extreme anger - very disproportionate to the "offense." Or extreme martyrdom - "I'm so under appreciated for the vast amount that I do..." Extreme self pity, etc. So "taking it easy" is something I need to work at in many areas of my life to achieve balance and moderation. Moderation of alcohol consumption is not something I will ever try again, but I need to continue to work on emotional moderation. I am much more content in my sobriety if I am "taking it easy" with the world around me along the way.

My work is starting up again. In addition to reading Step 8 in the Big Book daily, I am to pull out my harms list from step 4 and make the list of names for Step 8. Sister expects to review this list with me around the start of October so I have an exact plan for each amend that I will be making. She specifically instructed me NOT to start on any amends before we talk. I haven't known her long but she sure has me figured out. So I have to "take it easy" and not get ahead of myself.

Happy holiday for those in the US who have the day off! Strength and hope..

DG

wow i read this and you seem to no me o so well,words of wisdom dog lady,matter of fact even my wife woiuld read this and say she is just like you,are all people with an addiction the same,moderation is not in are vocabulary,thnx ladies gyco

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Hi Everyone: Last night's speaker meeting was great. It's so amazing (I know I've said this before) that I can identify w/the most unlikely people. A very, very young gay woman spoke last night. One might ask: What does she have in common w/an older straight woman? Plenty! In addition to her drinking, she spoke about her other isms, i.e. co-dependence. I have other isms too which need to be addressed on a daily basis through the 12 steps.

There is an AAer from some of my meetings who has fallen away from meetings. It's kind of scary, because I've heard over & over that often leads to a relapse. I must remember he has an HP who is guiding his life. Apparently, his wife was kind of complaining about the number of meetings he attends. I thank God that my husb is so supportive.

I have a lot on my plate, but I have my program & my HP to guide me along. So far, so good.

Mary

[Cinders]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Hi friends,

My name is Cindi and I am an alcoholic.

I have been laying low for a bit, reading and musing, etc. Talk about isms!! I, too, have my share and am working on learning emotional moderation. Whew, it is not easy!!

Mary, I commiserate with hubby. My broken wrist still hurts and I broke it in May. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with so much right now but know that being sober sure does make it doable.

I am determined to get to an AA meeting today. Whatever it takes. I very much need the support right now. I am at that "phase" where my mind is wandering back to my choices of the past, most made while drinking, that were very poor choices indeed. Reading what you are all doing with the Steps just reinforces how important it is to learn to let go and live right as best as we can from now on. Just do the next right thing.

Work is hammering me, actually to the point that I took an extra two days "off" just so I could get caught up with what I need to get done. How crazy is that???

Getting to an AA meeting needs to become more important than work.

Love,
Cindi

[hippie37]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Hi Mary.

I was in attendance at an AA convention a few weeks back where I heard a woman speak from Al-anon. I was quite surprised by the 30 min share she gave. It really did give me a different perspective on things considering what I had heard of the fellowship. I was surprised to hear that members where in recovery themselves (in some shape or form) albeit through other family members. I guess my self-centred attitude had me thinking that they were there for us (The real drinkers!!). Funnily enough the woman who shared was originally from Liverpool but had moved to Maryland over 20 years ago and was over here visiting friends who where also in attendance at the convention.

In my local area a new BB study group has just started on a Thursday evening, only been running 2 weeks to be honest. I somehow felt it gave room for too much analyzing and ego's!!. The church building didn't help much with the ambiance for me either and made me feel I was partaking in a Stephen King movie. Salem's Lot gave me the creeps!. That or Sleepy Hollow! It may just of been where my head was at that week though!

I've been struggling a bit of late with getting a balance between the basic fundamentals or remembering I'm an addict and going off in the clouds with my spiritual growth. I seem to be going all out with the New-Age self help etc and thinking this is the only way forward for me. I know I need BOTH in my life and getting that balance is difficult at the moment with where my head's at right now. I'm typically wanting to run before I can walk and expecting to become some flying yogi in a day!!!.

Love and Light
Phil
xx

p.s. will catch up properly with all the posts when I get home later. Just wanted to say Hi really!

[southernbelle47]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Thank you for posting the Recovery Reading site!

:lNancy

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Cindi: I'm so glad you posted. It is so easy to fall away from meetings: too busy, don't need it anymore, people are aggravating, etc. However, I KNOW I'm staying sober because of meetings. My own resources got me nowhere at all.

Mary

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Back to day 1
love and peace
phil

[Chief]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Hi Everyone,

Just checking in.....it's Day 3 here and I'm doing alright.......normal withdrawl symptons, but I'm getting through it. I'm going to beat this....

Don

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

Hang in there Chief. They tell me it does get better.
Phil

[bluedog]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

May I say Doggigirl and reteacher how wonderful it is to read your words of truth.
many many thanks

[anon]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Sept. 7 - 13

I am looking for the right thread . Is this the one for people starting out again!
I REALLY WANT TO DO IT THIS TIME.