Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 7 - Feb. 13

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 7 - Feb. 13

Good to see you Cherbear and to hear that all is well - just busy.

Yes Mary, the true insanity of it all. I'm so glad my "today" doesn't have to be like that.

Tonight I'm going to pop in to the Valentine's party at the Alano Club. There is a speaker at 8 with food / fellowship before and a dance after. I will have dinner with Mr. Doggy but probably go about 7:30 for some socializing before the speaker. Then maybe stick around for the light show, which I've heard is awesome! And maybe a little dancing with my girlfriends. It will be just like Junior High but without all the insecurity, and I'm really looking forward to it!!

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 7 - Feb. 13

My daughter's MIL drinks pretty heavily...I'm reluctant to call her an alcoholic, because it isn't my place to do that. Though nothing has ever been said in front of me, I'm pretty sure my daughter is reluctant to ask her to b-sit because of the drinking. Also, because of the drinking, life shrinks down to drinking & very little else: driving, being w/others, watching g-kids, etc. becomes too much effort. I know this because I've been there. Consequently, heavy drinkers & alcoholics miss out on valuable family ties. It's really too bad.

Today, I took my g-sons to their snowboarding lesson. It was a day of fun outdoors. If I was drinking: NO WAY!

Mary

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 7 - Feb. 13

retteacher;1059666 wrote: Also, because of the drinking, life shrinks down to drinking & very little else: driving, being w/others, watching g-kids, etc. becomes too much effort. I know this because I've been there. Consequently, heavy drinkers & alcoholics miss out on valuable family ties. It's really too bad.

Amen Mary. I was just posting about that very thing on another thread. My life got smaller and smaller as the drinking years went on until the end - where it was SO small that all I really did was sit at home and drink. I can relate!! That is too bad about your daughter's MIL especially if she is missing out on family time. I hope she finds her way out if it's a problem for her.

The speaker last night was awesome. Most people are aware of what a big city Chicago is. Chicago is in Cook County which of course is also huge (population wise). The woman who spoke has been critically involved for years in the program that brings AA inside the walls of all Cook County Corrections facilities. Her story was quite interesting before and especially during AA. It is very humbling to listen to someone who gives so much in their service work.

I've often heard people speak of "suiting up." I didn't realize there was history back to Bill W and Dr. Bob of the idea that when doing service work, we should dress up rather than down. (for all the same reasons one would "dress up" for a job interview or something like that.) She was suited up.

I didn't stay long into the dance party afterwards but did check out the "light show." The guy who always DJ's and does the lights is really very talented. It was quite a party!! Saw lots of friends there and had a chance to reflect on that. I've met a LOT of really nice people through the AA experience. What a blessing they are in my life.

DG

[gyco]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 7 - Feb. 13

a journey

retteacher;1055583 wrote: Everyone: I've been thinking about the concept: "Going to any lengths" to get well. I just encountered this concept in the Chapter to the Employers in the BB. I kind of think it goes hand in hand w/the concept of bottoming out. I think when I bottomed out...& everyone's experience of bottoming out is different...I was finally willing to go to any lengths to get better. Bottoming out, for me, was a real look at the insanity of my drinking life. I think it broke down the wall of denial I was living with. Like all of us in AA, I see relapsing. In addition to allowing meetings to slip by unattended, I think that the wall of denial gets built up again. People start flirting w/the concept of drinking when they feel overwhelmed & in crisis. Weather has held me back from meetings for the past 2 days. I don't feel like I want to drink. I do feel a disconnect & distance from the program & the people in it. I will get to a meeting tonight, as I know I must.

Wednesday is the day my daughter has her next big surgery. If the weather cooperates, I will go w/her & my husb will stay back here w/the kids/dogs. She'll have some recuperation & will need help. If I stay sober, I'll be right there for her. If I drink, I'm of no help whatsoever. I need to remember that.

Mary

hi gang,i always love this thread,not that i attend AA,but whatever i received from it it helped,if someone gets peace from an affliction is that not wonderful,news,as you continoe your journey over the years,it is like any other xperience it works or it doesnt,as far as a lapsing or or relapsing,again over time there will be greater presidences in yur life,sobriety is good until you do,then again the battle begins,it never ends,but you have foundation where you ve nevr b4,:goodjob::thanks:gang gyco