Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

[rebirth]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

papmom. Closed means meetings are for people who have a drink problem.You dont need to admit nor think you are an alcoholic. You just have a desire to stop drinking. I could not say "Hi my name is...and I am an alcoholic" until I realised I was one.
Congratulations for two months!!! Oh wow thats so amazing.
and thank you for the compliment. Believe me when I say that I look far from this first thing in the morning. xxxx

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Hello everyone!

Mary, your post made me think of the lying I did while drinking. (if, how much, pretending like I didn't want a drink when I was dying for one, etc.) And I thought I was an honest person. Talk about a soul sucking disease/affliction/addiction/whatever you like to call it. I hope you and especially your daughter are doing well today!

OMW, fabulous to see you! Hope to hear more of what you have been up to lately.

Rebirth, that reading grabbed me more and more each time I read it. God can only help me help another alcoholic if I truly believe that the miracle is possible for myself and for others.

P3, don't over think this thing!! (but many of us have done that, including me!) "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking." There will not be a quiz at the door and you don't have to have a card or anything. You will be welcomed. I hope you go. We truly can't know if AA will help us in sobriety unless and until we give it a real chance. This doesn't always happen, but it's not uncommon for the group to decide to talk about Step 1 when there is a newcomer in the room. Just thought I'd mention that so you won't feel funny if it seems there is a last minute change of topic. Step 1 is just about acceptance that we are powerless over alcohol and our lives had become unmanageable. For me, that was accepting that if I take one drink, I can't control how many additional drinks I'll have. I didn't really see it at the time, but I see now that my desire to kill myself, along with my non-stop priority on drinking and all it's accompanying garbage was....unmanageable. I hope you enjoy the meeting and meet some good folks.

CONGRATULATIONS ON 60 DAYS SOBER!!!!! :yougo::yougo::yougo: That is the important thing!

Good to see you Dance!

I love how these things happen. The 24-hours reading on the web site yesterday was not actually todays reading. Or yesterdays, or tomorrows. The universe did not want me to have a plan for a lead today! It all worked out well. The question at the end of the first part was (in the book, not on the web site link!) Have I any reservations as to my status as an alcoholic?

I used to, but I don't any more. For me, that relapse put the final nail in that coffin so to speak. Just because I had managed to abstain for awhile didn't "fix" me. I accept that I cannot drink safely, ever. What a relief that is! I couldn't really move on to any kind of contented sobriety and a new life and attitude while I was still holding out a little hope of being able to somehow drink moderately again.

The reading (from the book!) for today also spoke of God's will v. my will. I used to think that God's will must be something really grandiose and hard to understand and beyond my comprehension. But I really think that "God's will" for me is simply doing my best to do the next right thing. Trying to follow the values that I believe are the right way to live. The stuff I learned in kindergarten. Share my toys. Play nice with others. Smile. Do my best. Tell the truth. That sort of stuff.

Anyway, enough babble. I guess it's another sandwich post. Have a great day everyone and P3, don't sweat it! Enjoy it!

DG

[rebirth]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

dancelot;906281 wrote:
Just hearing a story live, or sometimes hearing someone tell what sounds like your exact story - it is so moving in person. Like MWO come to life (except everyone is or their goal is sobriety, so the idea of moderation is not an option - and everyone there has tried it at some point, believe me).

dancelot . I was one of those people thinking that I could moderate my drinking. It took me nearly two years to realise that it was impossible to reverse my drinking back to the glory days when I drank like a lady and just got a bit typsy. I drink no differently to someone homeless on a park bench. I cannot stop.

Some of the stories I hear in AA make me shiver. I become overwhelmed by their inner strength and courage to change their lives for the better. Just beautiful...

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Hi to Dance and rebirth! Lots of cross posting today! Love what you both had to say!

DG

[dancelot]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Hi, back at ya, DG! Hey, you haven't updated me on any jackrabbit sightings! :H

Rebirth - Yes, they are powerful! The in person experience, seeing and hearing everyone is amazing. To see how people are transformed - most of them you can't imagine them as drunks, until they tell their stories.

I could never moderate either - when I came here, I thought maybe I could do that - only because I didn't believe I could ever stop drinking! I was chagrined to find out about having to do 30 days AF first (didn't believe it was possible). Fortunately I listened to some sound advice from some long term Abbers, went for the 30 days, and quickly realized that AF was the way to stay. I didn't think I could do 30, and I will have 11 months tomorrow.

I found that so reinforcing, the idea of being in a room of people (AA) to whom moderation isn't an option. It was so freeing, even though I was already planning on staying AF, and more and more staying closer to the ABs sections on MWO. That's when I came to this thread - it was always positive and offered life solutions - the "can I , can't I", wishy-washy, "I'm not that bad" and rationalizations I was seeing from some members, was really getting to me. Not necessarily making me want to drink, but indirectly dragging me down, maybe. AA has a nice clarity to it, and I needed that.

Hi to everyone else - this thread is lively this week, and I've enjoyed all your posts!

[papmom3]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

thanks everyone for the support and encouragement. I will let you all know tonite how it went.

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Papmom: Good luck tonight. BTW, the only requirement for membership in AA is a desire to stop drinking. Nobody asks about the amount or consequences of your drinking. You don't even have to identify as an alcholic. I've heard people say: "Hi my name is (fill in the blank) & I'm not sure if I'm an alcolic." Also, ask for a "When/Where" booklet. This month the cover is purple. It will give a listing of all the AA meetings in your area by the day of the week. Enjoy! Mary

[papmom3]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Hi everyone!! Well, I went to the meeting and it was OK. It was very small and in a very hot room. Only 8 women. We listened to a tape reading of chapter 6 of the BB and then everyone tooks turns discussing how the subject matter (step 5?) pertained to them. I of course wasn't going to say a word but when the last person finished they all looked at me!! We all laughed of course. I told them it was my very first meeting and that I came because I wanted a special way to celebrate my 60 days. Then they handed out chips and yep, I got one!! Then the leader asked who wanted to read the closing comments and without skipping a beat she gave the book to me!! I told them hey! They told me I wouldn't have to say anything tonite!! They said "they lied!!". It was all in good fun. I read the closing, we did the serenity prayer and that was it!! I did find out there is a good open meeting in my city on Sundays at 10am so I might check it out this sunday. I'll go again next Thursday but then I'll have to find another meeting if I want a closed one on another non agility nite (I have 2 weeks off). Now, can anyone tell me how to get a picture in here that's on my desktop? Copy and paste won't work and when I click insert image it wants a URL.

[Pie]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Very nice! Are you glad you went?
Pie

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Thanks for sharing about your very first AA meeting P3! Sounds like a group of nice women. Congrats again on 60 days! It's pretty fun to pick up a chip for these milestones isn't it. I like them anyway.

On the pictures, a way that works for me is to first upload them to photobucket (a web site for picture sharing) and then copying / pasting the IMG code from there to here. A photobucket account is free.

Dance, I think the jackrabbits were all hiding from the hurricane driven stormy conditions! Or maybe it was just that I had an aisle seat. But I didn't see any. I wuzrobbed of jackrabbit sightings. :upset:

Hi Pie!

ETA: Sponsee 2 is getting me out and about to more meetings, which is good! I'm going to another new one tomorrow morning after my business stuff that I haven't been to before. I'm going to see if Sister wants to go with us. That would be fun - 3 generations of goofballs. Sober goofballs.

DG

[papmom3]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Hi DG-Yes I liked the meeting. Felt a little lost as all but 2 of us had at least gotten to step 4. I think one of the women is still drinking but definitely wants to stop. Two had gotten past step 5 both of which seem really daunting but then again I haven't even seen step 1!! It also felt a little surreal being in a roomful of women who had grown up in my town and a few weren't that much older or younger than me so I probably knew of them in HS. It was also surreal to hear the raw emotion in their voices as well as parts of their story. How did we all get to this place called Alcoholism? How many years have been wasted?
Anyway, my mood had definitely changed by the time I got home. This morning I was crying in the car on the way to work. Tonite on the way home I had a smile on my face, thanks to the meeting and all you wonderful people here at MWO.
OH yes, thanks for the tip about the pics. It worked!!

[Winefree]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Wow. What great and numerous readings this week. I haven't gotten through all of them, but wanted to stop by and say hello to everyone. Thanks for all the good discussion.

Winefree

[Cherbear]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Hi Everyone!!

WOW from me too! Lots of great stuff this week. I couldn't check in yesterday and missed so much.
But I went to a great woman's meeting, so inspiring. So affirming that this is where I need to be. Sober, going to meetings and here at MWO

I too was or (IS??) a high functioning Alcy.. nevery DUI , never missed a day of work yada yada.. but just like so many of you have said.. Just exhausted from the game I was playing in my head about the wine. and the "fakiness".
So much to say but too tired tonight. As someone in a meeting said. I just have to m ake it to my pillow tonight without a drink!! I'm there!

Cher


AF since 6/19/2010

[rebirth]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

Good morning.
Just checking in but will read the previous posts when I get to work. I am excited to hear what papmom thinks of her first AA meeting.
xx

[rebirth]

Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

dancelot;906337 wrote: Hi, back at ya, DG!
I could never moderate either - when I came here, I thought maybe I could do that - only because I didn't believe I could ever stop drinking! I was chagrined to find out about having to do 30 days AF first (didn't believe it was possible). Fortunately I listened to some sound advice from some long term Abbers, went for the 30 days, and quickly realized that AF was the way to stay. I didn't think I could do 30, and I will have 11 months tomorrow.

Dancelot .Thats me! You echo my words exactly. I love hearing posts like that. Really inspring.

P3. wow you got a chip! Took me two years to get a red one! They sound like a lovely group of people. I am very close to one of the women I met in my very first meeting.

DG I love your posts ( I love evryone's posts). they help me with my struggle to overcome my drink addiction.If I cant get to a meeting, I log on to MYO. It?s like having AA 24/7. I have all the help I need. What a comfort
Hello everyone. x