Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

[retteacher]

Everyone:

I'm doing well. I'm racking up the meetings for my 90/90. I'm pretty sure I'll finish before the 90 days are up. It takes planning to do it, but it's a unique experience. I'm happy to be doing it.

Also, I've been refraining about sharing at meetings. That's also a unique experience, because as hard as I try not to, I usually "plan" what I'm going to say ahead of time (while others are sharing). However, now I'm not doing that, because I know I'm won't be sharing. I tend to listen better & process the info differently.

This relapse has really been a learning experience. I can see now that my pride has diminished greatly. I'm really learning about humility. I love that my fears, emotions, faults, etc. are on display. My false front has taken a real hit, & that's a good thing.

Take care one & all...I'll be back!

Mary

[GinaCA]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Oh my goodness, Mary! You reached the big 3-0 on Saturday (or prob on Thurs or Friday...31 days in Oct)!! Congratulations!! Wow, that went by fast! You are doing such an amazing job and sound sooo focused, healthy and at peace. I have learned so much by your honesty in sharing about this experience, and all that you have learned about yourself from it. I hope you felt really proud of yourself when you got your chip on Saturday!

Bettygirl....go get that chip today! So happy for you, too!!

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Hi all! Mary and bettygirl, congrats to you both on your last 30+ days of sobriety!!!!

Mary - thanks for getting us going as usual. You are so right about the temptation to be lost in thought thinking about my own share instead of giving 100% to listening and reflecting on what others are saying. I have to be ever vigilent about that!

bettygirl - I'm not really sure what I am (or am not, LOL) when it comes to "religion." I have real issues with the organized religion I was raised with. When I read what you said last week about how your concept of a higher power / spirituality is evolving, I could really relate. I too feel like my connection with others in AA is a spiritual experience. For me, the best way I can describe a spiritual feeling is when my awareness of our shared energy is just really high. That happens for me a lot in AA. Not very easy to describe, but awesome to feel.

Hi Gina!

Just got back from a long weekend trip. It was fun, but good to get home last night. This morning we realized that one of our older dogs needed to go to the vet. It's very likely we may have to put him down. It's a really sad day. I realize it is still uncomfortable sometimes to just feel these really difficult feelings rather than try to run and hide from them with booze. But I'm grateful to be learning to feel my feelings instead of run - one day at a time. I'm grateful to have my sponsor and my AA friends (including all of you) at times like this.

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

DG: I'm a dog person so can just imagine how difficult to see one of your dogs failing. I know he trusts you to do the right thing by him, so go ahead & feel sad. It's normal. I know when my Buddy goes, I'll be blubbering my head off. He's a rescue dog & can be unpredictable, but I love him to no end. Keep your chin up. The vet helped me make the decision when the time came to put Lulu down. Good luck. Mary

[bettygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

oh no...so sorry about your old buddy, dg. i bet he had a great life with you. here's a big hug and some stength for the emotional whallop that is coming/here.

mary i hear you about listening (see what i did there )...i feel like i do that a lot and it is a good practice, imho...you can "hear" something valuable in just about everyone's share, and it is good to be present to absorb it. glad to be sharing my first 30 with you...i have done it before and relapsed as well...it's a process!

gina! thanks for the lovely congrats! you made my day when i logged in! hope your day is lovely!

i don;t know mick, but he/she left a sweet message on nov 4th of congrats, so thanks mick!

well, i chaired my first meeting and got my 30 day coin today! that was great, but the best part of my meeting was afterwards when i was walking out with a guy from the group. he opened up to me about his dad's abuse and how he was always a mean person who had to hurt you before you hurt him before aa (he's got 10 years sober). i was genuinely suprised and said "wow, i see you as a gentle soul...you don't come off as mean at all...that must be your true nature". he actually started to cry and couldn;t talk for a minute, so i just hugged him right there in the church parking lot. now, i don't know about you guys, but i don't go around having intense emotional experiences with people i barely know and hugging them in public! what a joy...what a relief to be able to be that open with people...and that he felt safe enough to be that vulnerable with me...human beings are amazing. recovering alcoholics are some of the most emotionally honest people i've ever met, and i am grateful to be one of them!

have a great day...i'm gonna go walk my beagles and smile at the sunshine!

peace!

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

I don't know anywhere in the world where you can find more genuine emotion than around AA. Sometimes in meetings (& even in the parking lot), we come together as you described BettyG. Thanks for sharing that. Mary

PS: Our Lulu was a beagle...a sweeter dog you could not find anywhere. She's up in heaven eating everything in sight.

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Thank you for all the kind words about our 4-legged friends. We did end up having to put our Ferguson down today. I put him in my avatar to honor him for a while. He was truly a good dog and he was Mr. Doggy's most special dog. Mr. Doggy is having a particularly rough evening. I am so very glad I am not drunk.

bettygirl - that is an awesome story about the person in the parking lot. I love the fellowship.

Mary - I wonder if our beagles Lulu and Buck are over the bridge together eating everything in sight. Now Ferguson will join them. Fergie and Buck were really big pals before Buck went over the bridge.

DG

[bettygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

so sorry dg...i'm glad you are sober too!

i have a beagle named puck who is there at the bridge too!!! AROOOOOOOOOO!!!

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Yes, Fergie is up there w/all his doggie pals. Lulu was a big, big eater. Never fussy. Cat litter was one of her favs. Love to you & your hubby. M

[bettygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

my beagle lucy once ate a whole 8 lb bag of dogfood...had to have it surgically removed!!! talk about "food motivated". she needs overeaters anonymous!

[bettygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

on a light note...have you guys seen the website "dog shaming"?
hilarious!

[GinaCA]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Oh, DG....my thoughts will be with you today. My doggies are such a huge part of the family, only they are more willing to give out the unconditional love we so need and appreciate. The thought crosses my mind about the fact, one day, I will be making decisions such as yours. I can only hope I can cope with it with such loving compassion and beauty.

I have been shaken up by a life event that I am not handling very well at the moment. It is out of my control for now, as it is related to anxiety issues. I put an emergency call in to my therpasit. waiting for a return call. I called my sponsor...not ready to open my ears to what she said....it takes time in situations like this. This is some serious stuff. Have my meditations pulled up on a tab here, but my mind is all over the place to focus on reading. I cannot stop crying. I am meeting an hour early with my outpatient counselor and owner. I am considering leaving nursing for good. I am not coping well. I am not utilizing AA as I should. I feel extremely lonely in this, though I was given much support at my nurse support group last night.

Sorry for the not-so uplifting thread on this usual thought provoking thread. This path has not been easy for me....many things I have no power over and serious resentments I have to learn to conquer.

Gppd Bye, friends.

[catch22]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Sorry guys loss my post
Sorry doggirl to hear abt ur buddy dog thinking of you ur o. My prayers.
Will try and get on here 2 morrow.
Take care. Love 2u all x

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Hi all. Thank you so much for the kind thoughts about Fergie. We really miss him.

Gina - I hope everything is OK. Whatever is going on, I'm glad you are reaching out to your various resources for help. I hope that "good bye" was not a long term goodbye???? Hope not. One day at a time is a good way to break down lifes bigger challenges into more manageable chunks, I think.

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Nov. 5 - Nov. 11

Gina: Good luck. Mary