Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Mary glad you're finding things are improving. DG i can't really run as I broke my ankle and have had 3 surgeries on it and have been warned off any impact stuff such as running. I LOVE walking though and i find it really helps my mood.

Well I did my 2nd chair today and have been booked in for a 3rd on Saturday! It's at my favourite late night meeting as well, which will be really nice. It's a bigger meeting though so I think I may be more nervous!

One of the guys who is co-secretary at one of my meetings is moving away in the summer and he asked me today if i'd consider taking over from him! Wow - I said sure why not. I want to get as involved as I can really.

Hope everyone's getting ready to have a lovely weekend!
K x

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Kimberly: You are such a great example of an good AAer. Service is an intregral part of the program, & when you are asked, you step up unhestitatingly. That's excellent. I'm trying to do my share in ways that are comfortable for me, & when I'm asked to do something, I do try to do it.

Last night's meeting was on the 6th step. There was a lot of humility in the room as people discussed their character defects.

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Hi All. Mary, I'm glad you are feeling better. The term "character defects" was another one I totally misunderstood pre-AA. (without ever actually going myself, and finding out what AA means by that!! Just judging away....) Much like "powerless over alcohol." Anyway, it doesn't mean I'm a flawed human being as I originally thought. It just means I have weaknesses as well as strengths, just like every other person on the planet from Jack the Ripper to Mother Theresa. (well, they are not on the planet exactly, but you know what I mean) If I don't understand my weak areas (character defects), how can I possibly work to improve myself as a person?

Kimberly, I think it's awesome you are getting so involved. I wish I could be at one of your meetings!

I better get a move on and get the outdoor stuff out of the way before the rain comes. Have a great day you guys!

DG

[jobe1023]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Remember there is nothing that a drink can't make worst

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

jobe1023;1114279 wrote: Remember there is nothing that a drink can't make worst

That was absolutely, 100% true for me Jobe. I know if I drank again, bad stuff would start happening again as a result.

DG

[Newgrange]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Hi. I am exploring the possibility of going to AA mainly due to what I read in here. I like the honesty in here and it makes sense to me. I googled the first step today and while I totally agree that my life had become utterly unmanageable with alcohol it is hard to accept that I am powerless. I am responsible for myself and I was the one to put the alcohol into my system. I found a first step worksheet on line and it looks very interesting. First glance I really get it and agree with it except the powerless bit. As the say I am only on the first step of the ladder and it is a big step. I have no problem going to AA but I need to research it a bit more first. I know most of you here are more advanced in your understanding. Please bear with me and advice gratefully received.

[Kimberley]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Hi NewG,

That's great news. AA has enabled me to achieve over 4 months sobriety so far when I couldn't even manage a month on my own. But so much more than that - I am already becoming better mentally and emotionally. I have my anger under control, am more accepting of situations and I deal with problems these days rather than creating dramas. In this short time it has done so much for me. I went sober on my own for around a year and I still had all my issues going on - with AA I am healing finally!

Powerlessness is about powerlessness over alcohol really - I know when I start I can't stop, I can't moderate, once I've had one drink, I am out of control and alcohol is in the driving seat. That's what it means to me anyway.

Yes research it - the best thing I did was to ring the helpline and get an AA member to meet me at my first meeting, hold my hand a bit. I am so glad I did that - I wouldn't have gone at all or wouldn't have gone back without that. You might not be such a wuss as me, but I needed that first contact.

Let us know how you get on!
K x

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Hi again all! Newgrage, AA has given me a lot of great tools for living in addition to some new sober friends and activities. I was already sober 8 months when I went to my first meeting. My life was better at that point then when I was drinking, by a long stretch. However I was gripped with fear of relapse. I realize today that I am just as vulnerable to relapse as the next person. However I have a set of principles to live by and a set of actions I can take on a daily basis to stay sober one day at a time. I'm fine with that and no longer afraid.

I too thought (before going to AA) that the powerless reference meant that I was a powerless and irresponsible person. Once I finally went to AA and listened to people talk about it, I realized that I AM responsible for my actions. And as a responsible person, I need to recognize that it's ALCOHOL I have no power / control over. Like Kimberly described, if I take the first drink I really don't know what is going to happen next. Most likely, a LOT more drinking, and probably some consequences to go along with it. If I had power over alcohol, I could drink one drink and stop. I've never been able to do that, ever.

The scariest thing for me was just going to that first meeting. Just go! You dont' have to try to decide in advance if you will like it or not. Chances are, you will like some things and not others. Some people and not others. (like the res of life most likely!) I also recommend people try a variety of meetings. Chances are you will feel at home in some groups more than others.

Anyway, I think the biggest gift to me of the program is just understanding what I have control over and what I don't, and learning to accept what I cannot change and having courage to change what I can. That serenity prayer guides me. If I find myself baffled, that is home base for me. That one thing + not drinking has made all the time invested worth while. The rest of it is icing on the cake!

Good luck to you. Just do it.

DG

[cpn1004]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Once again DG has nailed it. "Just go" is great advice.
Powerless? Me? I love this test; can I walk into a bar and have just one drink?
Uh....no.....I've never had just one.

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Newgrange: Interesting posts on powerlessness. My only addition: Once I start drinking, even a tiny sip, I'm powerless to stop. M

[Winefree]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Thanks for being my AA meeting tonight. I haven't been to a meeting in about 10 days and I needed to here about powerlessness over AL and all the other good things AA teaches us to get by ODAT.

Winefree

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Good to see you WF!!! How have you been? It is so nice to have this little thread here, isn't it? Hope you are well!

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - May 9 - May 15

Really, this thread is like a mini-meeting.

Last night's discussion meandered a bit but mostly was focussed on gratitude & the various substitutes for drinking that we alcoholics have taken up. I do see that the serious AAers often give up their other addictions (eating too much sugar, cigarettes, gambling) as they progress in the program. AA offers us answers to lifetime issues.

Mary