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**retteacher** · October 26, 2009, 07:54 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

DG: I just read the post to last week's AA thread that you just posted. I'm beginning to realize that all the situations & decisions that I avoided through drinking are new learning experiences for me.
-I need to learn to say "no" when I cannot or do not want to do something.
-I need to learn to work through uncomfortable feelings.
-I need to learn to work through conflicts instead of drowning them in AL.
-I need to let others learn their own lessons in life wo/intervening.
-et al

I've heard in meetings, that AA gives us a guide for life as well as a way to stay sober. I can see that is happening in my life. "Rigorous honesty" isn't so easy, but it's so worth the effort. Issues get settled instead of festering...therefore, no fuel for drinking.

Mary

**Doggygirl** · October 26, 2009, 04:18 PM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Hi Mary and thanks for getting the new thread started for the week! I didn't even think about that when going on and on earlier today. I love the summary in the first post of some areas that you are re-learning now that you are not burying or avoiding things with AL. I can relate to all of the things you pointed out to some degree or other.

I bet you do a really great job leading a BB meeting. You have such a great way of boiling things down to an easy to understand summary. Wish I could sit in on one of the meetings you lead! Hey - you never know in this life, right?

Phil, HELLO to you in Lincoln! Do let us know how the meetings go there. Nice that you were able to be home for the celebration with your home group. I like that quote about new groups getting started with a resentment and a coffee pot. :H I'm very sure that's true around here, given how many meeting choices there are!! Phil, I think you will feel really good when you review your Step 4 work with your sponsor and then move on to Step 5. I know my load was lightened immensely!

I'm off to make dinner but wanted to just say hi to you both.

DG

**retteacher** · October 26, 2009, 06:16 PM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Phil: I just read your post at the end of last week's thread. You sound very, very good. You make me realize that working the steps is so essential. I certainly don't see it as a one-time deal either. I know I'm going to need to do another house-cleaning in the future. I do feel that I've accomplished a lot in the 7 months I've been in AA, & it was SO worth it. Take care of yourself. Congrats for finding meetings wherever you travel. I give you a lot of credit for that.

Mary

**Pamina** · October 26, 2009, 06:22 PM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Hi all,

Though I didn't quite make last week's thread, I wanted to uncloak my lurker status for long enough to congratulate DG for getting out there, sharing your story and providing inspiration to so many. We knew you'd be great as a speaker! It's wonderful that so many people are supporting you along the way.

And Cindi, if professional support has been missing from your arsenal up til now, I just wanted to send tons of encouragement your way to take your doc up on it. You won't regret it. Finding the right person might be like looking for the right AA home group but when you do you'll know. It will work out for you. :l

I've said it before, but I love this thread and admire everyone on it for really working at the life skills that keep us sober and sane.

***recloaking into lurking***

**retteacher** · October 27, 2009, 07:05 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Pamina: Many thanks for joining in. At last night's women's meeting, one of the members got her one year coin & a cake. It was lovely...she's come a long, long way. I continue to marvel at some of the stories I hear at meeting. They give meaning to "rising up out of the ashes." Mary

**Doggygirl** · October 27, 2009, 02:41 PM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Hi Pamina! Great to see you as always. Yes...SANITY.

Mary, I love when people have anniversaries. They are all special whether it's a week or a month or many years. Sounds like the one last night was really nice with cake too!

The Tuesday AM meeting I go to is an open topic meeting. The chair chose the topic of prayer today. As a spiritually uncertain person, this was a great topic for me. I did realize how much I appreciate the structure of the steps, and the inclusion of specific prayers. It has been good for me to "just do it" and not think too much about having a "perfect" understanding of God. I think a major reason why I have spent most of my life being spiritually confused is that I HAVE wanted "perfection" in an understanding of God. What is God. Where is God. Proof of God. All things that are simply not meant to be when it comes to God, I don't think. I like in the big book where it says "who am I to say there is NOT God?" That really gave me food for thought.

So...I keep saying the prayers at the direction of my sponsor and God seems to be doing for me what I cannot do for myself (one of the promises), because life keeps getting better and sobriety keeps feeling easier. All I know is that this bunch of ex wretched drunks are today, people I am proud to call my friends.

Strength and hope,

DG

**retteacher** · October 28, 2009, 07:12 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

DG: Ditto here about God/prayer. I've heard over & over at meetings to just get down on your knees & do it. I think that's the "gift of desperation." We're willing to do anything to get better. One guy I heard was a doubter, & his sponsor told him to read the chapter to the agnostic in the BB every single day for a long time. Eventually, he began to get it. I try to use my rational mind to "figure out" the whole God/prayer thing. I really began to recover when I just started doing it. Last night I was snuggled under my covers when I realized I hadn't prayed on my knees. I did get out of bed to do it. I then went into dreamland quickly.

At the women's meeting we discussed the reading about God being the "Ultimate Authority." That's certainly a lot better than what I was doing 7 months ago when I was using drinking as my ultimate authority. That took me to places I don't want to return to.

Take care one & all.

Love, Mary

**Tipplerette** · October 28, 2009, 08:49 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

New and want to go AF for month of November

I am so non-computer savvy that I need to ask for help. I want to join one of those AF for a month groups but have no idea how. I have not gone for more than one day AF in 9 years so maybe I am aiming a little high here but I don't drink more than half a bottle of red wine most nights so maybe it will be easier than some have it. Anyways please help me by guiding me to what to do here on this website to join up and report my inevitable SUCCESS. How's that for positive thinking.

**retteacher** · October 28, 2009, 08:59 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Tippy: Since you came to this thread:
-Keep coming here & report on your progress.
-Go to the daily thread here at the 30 day abstinence forum & report there.
-If you really want to stop drinking, establish a sobriety date & stick to it.
-Don't hesitate to share any questions or comments.
-Keep in mind that this is an abstinence forum, so if you're interested in moderation, there is a forum for that.
-We are about complete sobriety here & do not have moderation as a goal. (I'm an alcoholic & have tried moderation countless times w/NO success.)
-I think I've about covered it. The regulars to this thread will continue to make suggestions.
-Good luck!

Mary

**retteacher** · October 28, 2009, 09:00 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Tippy: If you're interested in AA, keep coming here & reading about meetings &/or go to the AA website for info & meeting schedules in your area. Mary

**Cinders** · October 28, 2009, 10:16 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Tipplerette,

:welcome:

The AF Daily thread under the Monthly Abstinence Forum is a good place to start.

So is the ODAT thread in the Just Starting Out Forum.

You will get lots of support and great advice.

Cindi

**Cinders** · October 28, 2009, 10:23 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

I am working on Step 2 now. I finally have Step 1 down pat.

I found two links that are helpful for me. I know most here are well past Step 2 but thought you might find it interesting.

How to use Alanon and AA: Finding your Higher Power | eHow.com

Higher Power Exercise

I created my God list and God Box as word docs on my laptop. I guess I am kind of a "virtual" girl.

Anyhow, still sober, still needing to stop and say the Serenity Prayer often to get through the day but it is working.

Love,
Cindi

**Preciouspinot** · October 28, 2009, 10:40 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Hello to all my fellow AAers! I am still working on step 4 and have a deadline of next Friday so, wish me luck that I am able to perform a through cleaning. I am really feeling comfortable with my morning routine of prayer and reflection and I have my God box in my closet where I get dressed in the morning in case I need to hand anything over before I start my day. Things have been very busy with work and with the kids activities and school so I am very grateful I have this program to keep me centered and focused instead of stressed out and thinking I need to do everything perfect all the time.

For any of you that has the iphone there is a great app for AA! It is called Steps Away and it uses GPS to locate meetings where ever you are. Works great when you are traveling. It can also store AA contact info and is password protected in case my kids try to open it and see what it is. There is another one that has the BB. I might get that one too.

**retteacher** · October 28, 2009, 11:11 AM

Weekly AA Thread - Week of Oct. 26 - Nov. 1

Cindi & PP: You both sound great! PP, I was plagued w/the notion that I might have missed something in my 4th, 5th, & 9th steps. My sponsor kept me grounded by saying that I have my whole life to remember anything I might have missed. The steps don't have to be done to perfection (except for step 1 of course). I am finding that if I missed any incident in the amends process, I can just go to the person & say just that. It is so great to live an open & honest life now. It 's the best part of recovery!

Mary

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