weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

[Doggygirl]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

Hi Okey!! Great to see you - welcome back!!! Would love to hear about your journey!

Yes Mary - looking inside instead of looking to place external blame when I am uncomfortable / irritated / frustrated / etc. was something I NEVER used to do. Sometimes now it's difficult to do or I forget! But it's always better when I DO look inside. Inevitably, that is where I will find someting I CAN control and change. (often my view and interpretation of things) Looking to change external things or just place blame and stay mad never makes me feel better.

School starts in less than two weeks. Having all night classes is going to be a huge adjustment for me. I will still be in class about an hour away from home when I am normally in bed! That also means I need to adjust to sleeping a little later and really changing some things about my daytime routine. I think I need to try some different AA meetings at different times, or maybe even find out if there are some meetings near school at 4 or 5PM. I'm going to treat it as an adventure - an opportunity to get out there and meet some new people.

DG

[ThreeDogNight]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

Had forgotten to say "Congratulations" to Kimberley!! What a fantastic inspiration.
Teacher and DG--I love your posts and get so much from them!
At AA a couple of days ago, we learned that one of our home group had been in a horrible car accident on New Year's Eve a.m. Hit a patch of black ice and went through the windshield. She is apparently paralyzed, either from neck down or waist down--and we are all praying it is temporary. She has twelve or so years of sobriety, has five teenage kids, and had just moved to her mother's due to financial problems. Just saw her last week, and she looked so preoccupied but didn't mention her problems. Please say a prayer for her. There is a website called Earth Clinic which some of you may be familiar with. They send out a weekly or monthly request for prayer topics and also prayers for individuals. I am going to add her name (first name only) to the list.
DG--do you know of any on;line programs for drug and alcohol counseling? Cannot actually enroll in anything other than that right now, due to driving restrictions, but I have tons of information gathered from my rehabs and would like to get involved in this.
Happy Sober Day, everyone!

TDN

[Doggygirl]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

TDN, I am not aware of any comprehensive on-line programs, but that doesn't mean they don't exist!

The place to start might be to find out what organization in your state handles certification for alcohol and other drug abuse counselors. I think all states have some sort of certification program these days. (and many states have reciprocol agreements) You might be able to get information off of their web site about education programs they endorse - and you might find some on-line classes.

In Illinois it's the longest acronym ever I think: IAODAPCA = Illinois Alochol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association. (I think I remember that right anyway!)

The community college where I am taking classes does offer some of the classes on-line. That might be an option too - see if you could even take a class or two on-line and see how you like it.

DG

[retteacher]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

Last night's meeting a good one. In mid-winter w/the temp at zero, it's sometimes hard to get myself out to a meeting. I have many excuses:
-I'll go tomorrow.
-I just went.
-I'm too tired.
-etc.

But, whenever I make the effort to go, I'm ALWAYS glad I did. Last night's speaker emphasized the "bondage of self" as described in the 3rd step prayer. Whenever I forget myself...even for a few seconds...I'm happy, joyful, & free.

The readings are dwelling on step 1...powerlessness/unmanageability. I will never forget the awful life I lived prior to sobriety. I know I must keep those memories in my mind lest I say:
-Maybe I'm cured.
-Maybe I can have just one.
-I might not have been so bad.
-I'm not as bad as him/her.
-etc...

All of the above is pure BS...I'm not one to swear, but that's just what it is.

Enjoy the day. It's all we have.

M

[fluff]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

Just saw that Kimberley is one year free! Congratulations!

[ThreeDogNight]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

DG--thanks for the info! Am going to check on line today to see about courses certification.

:thanks:TDN

[retteacher]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

My sponsor is coming, & we'll be reviewing my progress on the 4th step. In addition to writing my resentments, I've been picking char. defects from a list in one of her 4th step pamphlets & writing about them. For instance, I wrote a page each about dishonesty, egotism, people pleasing, etc. There was a big list of characteristics, & I checked off the ones that applied to me. It's not nearly as discouraging as it sounds. For me, this exercise gives me a clear idea of what i need to do on a daily basis to improve. Again, once we put the drink down, the real work begins. M

[catch22]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

:hello: Every1:hallo:

Big Congratulations 2u Kimberley on 1year sobriety you have work so hard for this...... May you have many more hours, days, months, years of sobriety ! :l


Catch22 x

[Guitarista]

weekly AA Thread - Jan. 2 - Jan 8

Hi Y'all!

Congratulations Kimberley on 1 year AF! That's huge. Keep it going.

Bravo!

G.