November AA Thread

[retteacher]

November AA Thread

Everyone: I just got back yesterday. Also just read all the entries while I was gone. Wonderful!

Deter: When I had to pick up my 24 hr. chip after the relapse, I was incredibly humbled & so sad. However, I was determined that would not happen again. That was over a year ago. Staying perfectly sober is not easy. This is a simple program but not an easy one. Good for you for starting again after 1 day out. So many of us say: "Screw it! Now I'm just going to continue to drink." I did that for a few weeks...& I could feel the disease progress w/each passing day. Stay w/your meetings, sponsor, & us here at MWO. My sponsor made me redo the steps around the relapse & go to 90 meetings in 90 days after my relapse. It wasn't easy, but I did it, because I really like sobriety.

Sol: You said so it well & eloquently. This is why I go to meetings: I learn something from everyone & of course, from you all here.

I'm tired out & getting settled in at home again. I went to 4 (yes 4) meetings while I was in FL. I'm starting to get to know people down there. That familiar feeling of welcome is just so much a part of AA. I also felt welcomed back w/no judgement after that relapse I had last year. I hope you did too Deter. I suspect you did.

I love my mother, but she can be trying (as only elderly people can be). I felt that longing for instant relief a few times, but I worked through it & am the happier for it. Thank God I can talk to my husband about things. He's a jewel.

Take care one & all. I'm so glad you all shared so much here. It was a joy to read everything. Mary

[sunshine_gg]

November AA Thread

Welcome home Mary
Glad you enjoyed your visit and got in some meetings as well.

Nothing new here. Today was a good day. Day 30.

[retteacher]

November AA Thread

Egg: One whole month! Congratulations! I remember when a week was a big thing for me. Mary

[sunshine_gg]

November AA Thread

I'm too lazy to write it out again, so I'll just copy/paste from earlier:

Well, the meeting last night was awesome. We had our Christmas dinner, and then the meeting. Interesting development: Mr. Sun's ex called me yesterday... when we first bumped into each other she definitely wasn't ready for Mr. Sun to know about her being an AA member. At some point yesterday though, she realized that she actually really didn't care and it would make our lives much easier if he knew and her and I wouldn't have to sneak around So, when he got home, I did invite him to the dinner (I had not done so because of her) and he came. I went early to help set up, he came for the dinner and then left. He sat between her and me... and hadn't quite got over the shock yet (not even by the time I got home - almost 10pm)

After the meal, we read the preamble, steps, etc.. then turned off the lights and had a candle (well.. no.. a Christmas light) meeting. Just for fun, we changed up the format; everyone wrote their name on one piece of paper and a topic on the other. We then drew one of each and the person up talked about the topic they picked.

It occurred to me at one point, how utterly scared I was just a month ago to walk in there and how totally comfortable I felt last night. Very cool.

Oh.. and I also got my 1-month chip

[broken halo]

November AA Thread

GG, well done on your 30 days, I missed that So, your man's ex is also in your AA group? Wow, that must be interesting!

My meetings lately have been a bit strange. One of the women I met at my first meeting had a good chunk of sober time behind her but has been drinking and turning up at meetings sozzled. I was upset at first, and spoke to my mentor and soon to be sponsor about how I was feeling. She reminded me of the 'desire to stop drinking' and the fact that even though this woman was drinking, she still had that desire and was still honestly sharing her experience. It really brought it home to me that one drink, just one, can take you right back to the hell you have fought so hard to escape from.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, we don't celebrate it in the UK, but today I have a lot to be thankful for.

[retteacher]

November AA Thread

Egg: How interesting that you & the ex are at the same meeting. AA is such a uniter of some very unlikely people. I've seen community members at meetings whom I've never suspected were alcoholics. I'm sure they felt the same about me. Congratulations on your one month.

Yes, your mentor is right. All we need for membership is the desire to stop drinking. We don't have to proclaim ourselves alcoholics. We don't have to be sober...not even when we're sitting in meetings. All we need is the desire. I've seen plenty of people under the influence at meetings. It's a bit disconcerting, but they have every right to be there.

It's also disconcerting when people we know & trust have a relapse. It happened to me, & it could happen to any one of us. When I relapsed in 2012, I heard many, many relapse stories...after 7 years, 10 years, 21 years, even 42 years (yes, 42 years). We all only have ODAT.

Mary

[Solitaire]

November AA Thread

Challenging day yesterday

Hello friends,
Approaching 16 months in the program, I had my toughest day yesterday:
I knew I wasn't going to pick up, but, I could see clearly how and why and when I drank in the past!
I was in a foul mood (that doesn't happen often), my teenaged sons are giving me a hard time, car packed up, etc....
Out of nowhere came the idea: what pill can I take? I am on no meds...
I am so grateful for our program!!!!! I could trace resentments, work through Step 4, speak to friends in the fellowship...
I felt it for the first time: it is a VERY fine line between emotional relapse and drinking!!!
So, just for today...
Hugs from Sol xxx

[Solitaire]

November AA Thread

JUST FOR TODAY
Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do something for 12 hours that would appal me if I felt I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY
Just for today I will be happy. Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my luck as it comes, and fit myself to it.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will strengthen my mind.
I will study I will learn something useful.
I will not be a mental loafer.
I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will exercise my soul in three ways, I will do someone a good turn, and NOT get found out. If anybody knows of it, it will not count. I will do at least two things I dont want to do just for exercise
I will not show anyone my feelings are hurt, they may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be agreeable, I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticise not one bit, not find fault with anything, and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will have a program. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two pests, hurry and indecision.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. During this half hour sometime, I will try and get a better perspective of my life.

JUST FOR TODAY
I will be unafraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

[retteacher]

November AA Thread

Sol: I too have had some tough days lately. I didn't pick up but remembered the relief I felt at times like these when I did pick up. Now, after the biggest part of it all has passed, I'm so glad I toughed it out w/the help of AA. Also, I don't have the guilt & shame that goes along w/drinking.

I've read the "Just for Today" booklet. I think I have one here stuck in one of my daily reading books. I haven't read it for a while. Thanks for taking the time to put it into this thread. There's good stuff there.

The Wed. night before Thanksgiving here in the states in the biggest bar night of all...bigger even than New Year's Eve. My son-in-law is a police officer & informed us of that last night. I saw for myself people coming & going out of bars & liquor stores in preparation for Thanksgiving. I'm so grateful that I don't have to live that way anymore. We went to a big speaker meeting the night before Thanksgiving. The 2 speakers were wonderful: messages from their hearts.

Our Thanksgiving was very good. My daughter & son-in-law drink but not alcoholically. I was perfectly satisfied drinking soda. Today: no headaches or regrets. Only good memories of the day.

Mary