Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

[retteacher]

Hi Everyone:

I don't have anything profound to say...I count on all of you for that...but I thought I'd start the thread off this week. Mary

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

I came right back. I just wanted to mention that in last night's BB meeting, we read the doctor's opinion. It carried so much truth in it. I especially related to the parts about trying to control our drinking & also the part where we delude ourselves into thinking we can now drink normally.

I haven't obsessed about drinking, but once in a while, usually when I'm tired & by myself, I get a fleeting thought. The acronym HALT: don't get too hungry, angry, lonely, tired...is so applicable. It's amazing how AA can put so much truth into a slogan or an acronym.

That said: I'm generally doing well. Our family is dealing w/Patty's cancer one day at a time. When I let myself reflect on my drinking days, I can honestly say that I'd be using it as an excuse to drink every day. I might take a day off now & then to help out, but mostly I'd be in the cycle of drinking (obsessing, drinking, & recovering). How freeing it is to be sober!

Mary

[Guitarista]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Freedom indeed!

Greeting's everyone,
might try another meet at the end of the week. The one last friday was interesting, and a smallish group, 8-10 folk's. There's another one i want to go to again too, which is much bigger, maybe 30 or so. I' suspect i'll get more from the smaller more intimate meet, but it'll be a positive experience i'm sure either way.

A safe, sober, magical day to all!

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

guitar: There are definitely meetings I prefer, but I find that every meeting yields something in terms of wisdom gained. I go to a very large speaker meeting on Mon. nights which celebrated its 49th anniv. earlier this mo. Have fun & (as they say in prog.), don't take that first drink (or in my case, the first sip). Mary

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Hi Mary and G! Mary, thanks for getting us started for the week. I can relate to the occassional fleeting thought. It's nothing like a real urge, but more like a shadow from the past just flitting through. Those passing thoughts let me know that I need to stay vigilent. If I rested on my laurels, I would end up like so many others who have relapsed. I would start forgetting the realities, and believing those fleeting thoughts that I CAN safely drink. I know that will never be true, and I need to keep the truth firmly in front of me.

I too get something good out of every single meeting I attend. Different formats, sizes, topics, people - it's all good! I find it facinating to make connections with people where that doesn't seem possible.

Something interesting happened in a meeting yesterday. This is one that is an "open" meeting that normally would be a closed meeting. It's 12&12. People over time have complained that it's open. There is one lady from Alanon who loves to study the steps and big book so she is there every week. Her husband is drinking again and is in a really bad way. She described something that happened over the weekend. (involved him injuring himself, etc.). She is very frustrated but trying to just focus on herself and her kids. Another guy in the room who is newly sober (6 months) later thanked her for her share. He said it helped him understand how his wife must have felt over the years when he came home with gun shot wounds and other injuries. This guy rarely says much. It was a magical moment, and one where I was grateful it was an open meeting and grateful I was there to see that connection being made.

G, you have a lot to offer. And I know there are people out there who have lots to offer you in return. Let the magic begin!

I was wondering what became of one of the guys I was giving rides to. Hadn't heard from him in a couple of weeks. He just called for a ride tomorrow morning. I'm happy that he is still sober and OK. In the old days, I would have just resented the inconvenience of giving him a ride. Oh the changes.

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

DG: The relapsing is pretty rampant...not everybody all the time, but there is enough to notice. Yes, those fleeting thoughts of drinking are what get me out to a meeting when I don't feel like going.

There was an Alanon member that I've known at last night's AA meeting. She's finding that her family's drinking habits are becoming more & more of a problem for her. There was a lot of sharing about alcoholism as a disease. I hope it helped her understand that her family doesn't drink just to get her annoyed & worried. I found myself completely comfortable w/having her know that I'm an alcoholic.

Mary

[Cherbear]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Good Afternoon everyone.

Finally had a day off today and running around getting errands done and went to my mid day meeting that I go to when I can.. Its the meeting I went to first and always very colorful. We talked about the 2nd step, a power greater than ourselves and last night in my Big book meeting we read the last half of the agnostic chapter so a lot of focus for me on higher power. And it is amazing the very emotional reactions to the agnostic chapter.. there were many who said it shouldn't even be in the big book or at least up dated. Guys that have been sober along time who still have serious issues they feel that Bill was trying to put some type religion on them (a bit resentful perhaps)). But I didn't read it that way at all and just looked for what struck a chord with me. It just goes to show that how you embrace your higher power makes such a difference in your daily attitude even after you've been sober a long time.

I'm off to visit my Mother for a couple of days so I will check in later this week. Have a great week!!

[rebirth]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Hi Cher, Mary, DG and Guitarista,
Have not posted in a while..
Mary I think it's a blessing that you are sober when your daughter needs you. I can imagine that you are filled with gratitude for your sobriety. I am always grateful for my HP!

Cher did you get your medal?

I still think about drink everyday but not in the form of a craving. More like a memory of my past. It's a relief that I no longer get drunk.
Tell you what I love doing. I love spending the money that I have saved and treating my son to something special every weekend.
I would easily spend about US100 a week on AL

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Greetings all, I'm in Covington,LA, north shore across the lake from New Orleans.
My first time in the big easy sober. I'm staying at one of those hotels that offers free beer and wine in the evenings. I've been watching this guy carry two at a time for the past half hour. I know the feeling, that used to be me.
Wow, guess what? I don't have to do that anymore. Thank you AA.

[RedFingers]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Let me know if Im wrong, but is this kind of an online AA meet for us? If so, great. Maybe it will help. This is my first week, started monday AF, today AF, and hoping to get through tomorrow AF.
I work full time and take 10 hrs of school (3 classes), so almost FT in school, and just dont have time to attend AA meetings in my area. Plus Im worried I'll run into some old drinking aquaintances, why worry? I know, but I just am. The crowds I used to run around with have been out of my life for 10-15 years now and I dont care for a chance encounter.

[rebirth]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Hi red,

Welcome! Yes it's for online AA support but anyone can post on here. Always nice to have new people on this thread. You are on the right track to be posting here and avoiding your drink buddies. I avoided all my drinking holes initially and told my friends that I stopped drinking. I was worried that I was losing out or missing out by avoiding places and people but it's the complete opposite.

AF is the life for me. I dont miss my hangovers or feelings of self loathing one bit!

Happy hump day all. I am grateful for my HP today. xxxxxxxxxxx

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Red: This is not an official AA site. This thread is on a forum of people who are trying to deal w/alcoholism. This particular thread is made up of people who either go to AA meetings & share abuot them or people who are curious about AA.

I've been at this forum since 2007. I struggled to stay AF for 2 years before I was finally able to hit bottom & say that I need something face-to-face (i.e. AA meetings). I do meet up w/people I knew from the "outside" at AA meetings. That's OK...my pride/image needs work. Now, I go to meetings frequently & share here. I also read what others' meetings are like. The combination of AA & MWO works for me. I hope you will see success. As you might already know, the first week is quite difficult.

I've read the chapter to the agnostic many times. I like that I can have an HP of my own vision. I heard one guy share at a meeting that he has trouble w/the whole spiritual aspect of the program. His sponsor told him to read the chapter to the agnostic every night before sleep. That helped the meaning unfold to him.

Anyhow, I hope all is well w/everyone.

Mary

[j-vo]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Hi Mary, Guitarista, DG, Cher, Rebirth, Phil, (welcome Redfingers) and Married. Hope everyone is doing well.

This weekend, I worked on steps 1-3 with my sweet and crazy sponsor. Love her. Now I have a new prayer to say every morning, and I just feel so much peace after I say it. It's an abridged version of the one they want you to say, and if anyone wants to see it, I'd be happy to type it here. Let me know.

I'm getting to meet more people and I'm so grateful. The meetings are so meaningful to me, and being with people who understand me is just a miracle.

I had a drinking dream the other night. Not a "I got smashed dream," just drinking wine, then beer. It didn't bother me. It's just in my subconscience I assume. Anyone else have dreams? I know I had a fleeting moment where I was a little pissed I wasn't a NORMY! I was never a NORMY in any part of my life, so why the hell should I be where alcohol is involved?

Went to an anniversary/speaker meeting last night. It was packed. The speaker was excellent. She was a full-blown Alcoholic by the time she was 16. She had 8 years sober, and picked up (I'm getting to know the language). The reason was that she harbored resentment against another women, stopped going to meetings because of this women, didn't work her program. She said the situation happened about 1 1/2 years before she picked up. So it was coming. Her message was very important to me. Work the steps, pray, don't take any leaves from the rooms. Pray for those that create a resentment in us. That's hard to do, but if it means staying sober, then I'll pray extra hard for those I don't like.

Congratualtions Cher on your 3 months!!!!!!! Did you get your coin?

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

Hello all! j-vo, I would love to see the modified prayer you mentioned. "Don't take any leaves from the rooms?" I haven't heard that one. There are so many quips and quotes I can't keep track! What does that one mean?

Mary, I too like that I can have my own vision of HP and it works. The "tough chicks" tend to speak candidly about their own concept of HP and there is a wide variety and a lot of it is certainly outside of "main stream Chritianity."

Cher I hope you are having fun at your Mom's!

rebirth, I think that is AWESOME that you spend the AL savings on special time with your son each weekend. I too probably spent $100 a week on AL and that was in the later years when most of my drinking was done at home. I shudder to think what those numbers were during my "work hard play hard" corporate years. (in bars)

Phil, Back when I used to travel a lot on business I did some time with New Orleans as part of my territory. I always loved it and tried to weasel having Regional Meetings there too, even though Chicago made more sense. I think I liked N.O. because it seemed like "everybody drank all the time" (even though I'm sure that is NOT true!). I felt less "at risk" of having my excessive drinking questioned when I was in N.O. Sick. ITA - thank G od for AA. Sometimes at Chamber of Commerce social events I will notice the sort of stuff I used to do in hopes nobody would notice. I'm glad I don't have to do that stuff any more. And I DID have to. It was not a choice.

Red Fingers, welcome! If drinking is causing you problems, then I hope you will stick around and read and post. Be willing to do whatever it takes to stay sober. It's worth it.

Today's meeting had a special light shining on it. One guy who I really like to listen to was there today and gave the lead. He talked about working a good program (constantly looking to learn and grow) as opposed to just occupying space in meetings and enjoying the coffee. A key part of "working a good program" in his opinion is helping others.

There was a young guy there today. It was not his first AA meeting but first one to this group. He is only 20. He spoke of how much better things are for him sober - doing much better in college, etc. But he also spoke of the challenges of "peer pressure." He got a lot of encouragement from everyone there, and I was very glad to see the guy who gave the lead speaking with him after the meeting. I try not to spend a lot of time "in the past" as that is pretty pointless but there are occassions where I wonder what life would have been like if I had never taken a drink. I especially wish I had not been all consumed with AL through my college years. Like I said, I don't allow much of that sort of thinking as it's pointless. But I am always rooting for the very young people who come to AA and hope it "sticks" for them. (**OK, back to reality now!!**)

I love the tools of the program. The last couple of days I had my head up my butt over some things outside of my control going on in my home life. The only person I made miserable was me. What a waste of a couple of days. I CAN choose happiness and I'm glad that's what I did today.

DG

[j-vo]

Weekly AA Thread - 9/20 - 9/26

DG,
"The rooms," refers to the meetings. She said she left the rooms because of the resentments she harbored.

Here's the Third Step Prayer used by Dr. Bob

Dear God,
I'm sorry about the mess I've made of my life.
I want to turn away from all the wrong things I've ever done and all the wrong things I've ever been. Please forgive me for it all.
I know You have the power to change my life and can turn me into a winner.
Thank you, God, for getting my attention long enough to interest me in trying it Your way.
God, please take over the management of my life and everything about me. I am making this conscious decision to turn my will and my life over to Your care and am asking You to please take over all parts of my life.
Please, God, move into my heart. However You do it is Your business, but make Yourself real inside me and fill my awful emptiness. Fill me with your love and Holy Spirit and make me know Your will for me. And now, God, help Yourself to me and keep on doing it. I'm not sure I want You to, but do it anyhow.
I rejoice that I am now a part of Your people, that my uncertainty is gone forever, and that You now have control of my will and my life. Thank you and I praise Your name. Amen.