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

[Doggygirl]

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

Wow - there are several readings today that I needed to *hear.* Daily Recovery Readings I'm not sure what time it will change to 10/31 - I was reading the 10/30 ones.

DG

[okydoky]

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

CONGRATS ON 6 MONTHS WINEFREE!!!!

[Winefree]

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

Thanks for the cheerleaders and congratulations. I am keeping strong despite the happenings of this week. My husband was discharged from the hospital today and the medication is keeping his heart in a steady rhythm, so all went well. My higher power answered my prayers and kept him safe.

DG I think I'm going to check those readings for today before it's too late.

Winefree

[Doggygirl]

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

WF, I'm very glad to hear about your husband. I'm sure you are relieved to have him home and stable. In thinking about all that you have going on right now in life, I'm reminded of the discussion we had a few weeks ago about the words on page 164 - about "as we trudge the road of happy destiny." Trudging. That is just life sometimes. I'm grateful that during times of "trudging" we are not alone on this path. (HP and each other)

DG

[retteacher]

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

Hi Everyone:

At the BB meeting, I again read about "going to any lengths." I need to remember that, because I never, ever want to take my recovery for granted. Mary

[About time tooo]

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

Mary, just look how well you are doing. Seeing you here is a delight in my day.
Doggygirl.. you too.
Stay well.. stay strong.
With love
About time too.

[Winefree]

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

Great reading today from daily reflections. It talked about the not being a dried leaf and blowing all over with no resting place and being able to put all the pieces together in this puzzle of life. Most responded they didn't think they had all the puzzle pieces together but felt they were still working on it.
For me, I connected with the blowing leaves. While driving today, it was very windy and the leaves were blowing all over. I felt they were like snow flakes since they were all over and swirling around. I was surprised when the reading discussed the blowing leaves, it felt like my higher power gave me that experience this morning to connect with the reading. Sometimes odd things happen in this program and I don't think they are coincidences.
Everything seems to happen for a purpose and I do believe my higher power is behind it and watching over all of us.

Winefree

[Doggygirl]

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

Hi everyone! WF - I really liked that reading too. I would love the opportunity for that to be the discussion topic at a meeting. Maybe next year it will fall on one of those days LOL! I certainly don't have it all figured out, but I sure agree with you that life does NOT seem random. Not at all.

Mary - I too need to remember that. When I think about the 8 month period between my "just one" experiment and when I finally drug myself back on the wagon, it's a nightmare. I know it would be even worse if I went there again. I love my sober life more and more all the time, and will go to any length to keep it. (and must remember that!!)

ATT - good to see you! Congratulations on 4 years sober???!!!! (at least I assume that is the case? It would be great if you would post here again. I miss your contributions!)

I am off to 12& 12 and then a meeting with my sponsee. I'm hoping she decides to start formall working on the steps. But this is a good experience for me - it is up to her. So I don't push it. Learning not to shove my opinions down people's throats is important growth for me.

Strength and hope,

DG

[retteacher]

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

Everyone: I went to a family get-together yesterday & had a heart-to-heart w/a cousin whose marriage just broke up. He's about my age. His wife's drinking was a major factor. He told me that she's now "moderating." He's not a drinker & doesn't know about the whole "cunning, baffling, powerful" factor. Now that he's moved out, she's free to drink more freely & keep up a better front (my opinion). I really feel that (for me) NO drinking is the only answer. I think it might take some time for some alcoholics to return to their former levels, & some alcoholics go to their former levels right away. I can't help wondering how she's REALLY doing. While this couple was in the counseling stage, hoping for a reconciliation, he asked her to stop drinking. She told him that he was being too "controlling." In essence, she chose alcohol over the marriage...which involves school/college age kids. It's too bad.

Mary

[About time tooo]

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

Yes Doggy. 4 years. Not a drop.

Mary, there are those of us that eventually realise that moderating is a slippery slope. I'm not saying that some people cant do it but they sure didnt drink like I did. When we are sober we see the truth. And when people drink badly they push those they love away and fall into that lonely hell. It is very hard to watch isnt it.

Only thing we can do is to do what we need to do for ourselves.. harsh but true.
ATT

[tawnyfrog]

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

Hi B,

Great to see you again.

[Cinders]

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

Mary,

Everytime I have drank when I had my grandkids around or hubby around, it was me choosing alcohol over my family. I have to face that and recognize that is what I did. That is what addiction is, unfortunately. I feel badly for your friend, his wife and their children.

I hope he goes to Al Anon and learns the truth. It would help him a great deal.

About Time Too,

It is great to see you here and a big congratulations on 4 years of sobriety. It is also good to hear you still remain vigilant. It is a requirement of this addiction.

I went to an AA Birthday night the other night and one of the members celebrated her 22nd year. I wondered why she is still so active in AA. It has been such a long time.

Then today, I read two new members, one sober for 19 years and another for 15 years and now they are both back at the levels they were before they quit the first time.

Baffling, cunning, powerful.

It made me sad to read the posts, especially since both of them loathe AA and do not want to go back to it, but it also made me realize once again that we can never let the addictive part of our brain tease us back again. It will take us right back over.

Whatever it takes. AA, MWO, counseling, or sheer determination such as ABTT's, we must know we cannot drink. It will take us back to where we are choosing alcohol over loved ones and life.

Love,
Cindi

[Cinders]

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

Today's Daily Reflection

I CANNOT CHANGE THE WIND

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 05:00 PM PDT


It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85

My first sponsor told me there were two things to say about prayer and meditation: first, I had to start and second, I had to continue. When I came to A.A. my spiritual life was bankrupt; if I considered God at all, He was to be called upon only when my self-will was incapable of a task or when overwhelming fears had eroded my ego.

Today I am grateful for a new life, one in which my prayers are those of thanksgiving. My prayer time is more for listening than for talking. I know today that if I cannot change the wind, I can adjust my sail. I know the difference between superstition and spirituality. I know there is a graceful way of being right, and many ways to be wrong.

I loved this one. Prayers of thanksgiving. Prayer time is more about listening. Adjusting our sails. The difference between superstition and spirituality.

Being right gracefully.

I have read this several times today.

For working on Step 2, this reflection was powerful.

Love,
Cindi

[Doggygirl]

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

Hi again!

Mary, I'm sad to read of your cousin's divorce with AL right there playing a role in things. I can relate to what you said Cindi, about each time I drank at certain family events(which was never "one" - not even close - it was always to some level of drunkeness) I was choosing AL over family. I had to really think about my marriage and what direction things were headed with AL in the picture when I decided to try to give AL up. Funy - Mr. Doggy and I were talking about that in the car today on the way to my parents house. Given how crazy the AL (me) and pot (him) made us, I'm not sure our marriage OR our business would have survived the economic downturn had we kept on using. I'm so grateful that we are both sober today.

Mary, I hope your cousin finds some peace of mind (understanding) in this. And I hope his X finds her way for herself and also for the kids.

Cindi, I too used to question why someone felt the need (or desire) to go to AA even after many years of sobriety. I thought that meant "AA didn't work if you had to keep going forever." Duh. I guess I skipped over the part that these people are SOBER all this time. They are just doing whatever it takes, which is what I too will have to do if I want to be sober many years (or hours or days or whatever) from now. Also, I used to think AA would be some form of slow torture. I like going most of the time. I like most of the people I have met there. I am making new friends. I am learning new skills that are benefiting my life in all areas. I can think of worse forms of slow torture LOL.

ATT - I'm so happy for you that you are 4 years + sober. That is awesome, and I would imagine there has been some level of challenge present - just basing that on knowing how AL seems to always lurk there in the shadows of our lives.

I'm exhausted after a hectic and emotional day. It started with an unplanned "talk" with my ex-sponsor who pushed me to discuss something I was really trying to let lie. I wasn't prepared for that (are we ever prepared for that sort of thing?) but I did the best I could under the circumstances - that's all I can do. I will get more insight from my sponsor tomorrow. Mean time, had a really good visit with my sponsee. She is doing really well and it's a joy to see. I'm starting to understand why my Step Coach always says "I love to watch recovery!" He will be celebrating 34 years sober next Sunday. I'm grateful he stuck around and kept going at AA to help others because he sure has helped me. He is speaking at his old home club - the one where I spoke last weekend - on Thanksgiving morning. Mr. Doggy and I plan to go to that meeting before we head over the family dinner.

Mr. D and I then spent the afternoon with my parents. I feel so bad for my Dad. His health is relatively stable right now. But his balance is pretty bad and so he is home bound and also house bound so much of the time. He is really sad and there is nothing I can do about it. This also makes him short tempered and it's hard to watch him snap at my Mom constantly - especially knowing it is worse when we are not there. She really IS a trooper through all this.

Anyway...I will be up and out early for the meeting in the neighboring town where I see Sister on Mondays at 5AM. I'm looking forward to spending a little bit of time with her. I can use her wisdom on some things!!

I'm heading for the shower. My mind is in bad need of a break! But not of the AL kind. Maybe of the Tivo Saturday Night Live kind or something. I am grateful for AA and MWO as mentally, I relied a LOT on my support system today. Funny how all of your words written (here) and verbal (AA) stick in my head and I can see and hear things when I need them. So you guys were with me today! Hey Phil - how was Step 4? Hope you are doing well and feeling good about the house cleaning.

Strength and hope,

DG

[Winefree]

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

Doggygirl, sorry to hear about your Dad. Could he be somewhat depressed about his situation? Maybe some antidepressants would help or a therapy group. I don't know the entire situation, but just some thoughts to try and help.

I can't believe how sometime the things you say could have been written by me. I too was a little freaked out when I first went to AA and heard the lengths of sobriety, yet the people still go to meetings. I couldn't figure out what that was all about either. Now that I've been going for 6 months it makes perfect sense.

Mary, that is so sad about the woman choosing the booze over her marriage. Basically, I had to make that choice earlier this year, since my husband walked out on me. He had asked me so many times to stop drinking and I always justified my drinking, or said later on, or some foolish thing like that. This time I knew he was serious and if I didn't straighten out, my marriage was over. I also knew that AL had taken over my life and was not making it any better, but only worse. I'm glad I chose to quit. It wasn't until after 3 months that my husband came back home. I hope your friend rethinks her situation, if not for the marriage, but for herself.

Hope everyone had a great Sunday. I can't believe it is November 1st, already.

Winefree