Weekly AA Thread - Week of July 5 - July 11

[Doggygirl]

Hello fellow travelers! Mary, I am so excited to hear how well Patty is doing. She is strong and you are strong. Thank you for sharing with us as your example gives us all hope that we too can handle challenges and difficult times SOBER. And it will not only be OK, it will be way better than how things used to be when we were drinking our way through life.

So good to see Cherbear and WF and HG and Phil and Cindi and Dance and the whole gang here!

The convention was awesome and indeed a magical and spiritual experience for me. I can't even describe what the meeting was like on Friday night in the Alamodome. There were over 57,000 conference attendees the last I heard (the number may have gone higher) and I'm guessing most of them were in the dome Friday night. There were people from 90 countries represented. The meeting was simultaneously translated into 7 languages other than English. There were two men from Germany sitting to our left and two women from outside of the US (Eastern Europe somewhere I think) to our right.

The theme for this conference was "A Vision for You." They talked about Bill W and Dr. Bob's vision of being able to go "anywhere" and find an AA meeting and help for alcoholism - one alcoholic helping another. There were countries represented at this conference that I had never even heard of! I think the vision is coming to fruition.

The quiet time followed by the serenity prayer was amazing. The optional Lords Prayer was amazing. Gave me chills. More importantly, the message of hope in recovery was everywhere. The speakers in the meetings were just regular AA members like you and me, with the exception of topics where outside expertise was called for. (i.e. I went to one meeting on the subject of alcoholism treatment and the medical community so the speakers were doctors and social workers). Listening to all the different people - men and women from all places and walks of life - just solidified for me that my life without alcohol is full of promise, and that WITH alcohol, that promise can quickly go away.

One speaker who stood out was a man who started drinking as a teen like so many of us. He hit bottom in his twenties where he was "unemployed and unemployable." He wasn't exactly homeless but didn't exactly have a regular place to live either. In recovery, he ended up back in school and eventually became a lawyer. Today he is a judge. He continues to stay very involved in helping other alcoholics and up until he became a judge, did a lot of prison outreach.

There were so many similar stories. No matter where we are in life, there are lots of great possibilities unless we drink them away.

I enjoyed getting to know my local friend and traveling companion better. She has a strong message in her own personal recovery. It doesn't matter where we have been. As long as we don't drink, life can get better.

I'm looking forward to continuing my step work and continuing to seek opportunities to help others. Addiction to alcohol and drugs is just insidious - robbing us of everything while we're not looking. Cunning, baffling, powerful. I remain optimistic about some of the new things emerging in the medical community - Bac in particular and I appreciate following the journies here with that. Hopefully treatment options will continue to get better. I hope people will continue to see AA as a program that affords companionship and understanding from other alcoholics, and a way to learn to live sober (beyond the "stop drinking" part) that a drug can never provide. I thought it was interesting that the 30,000,000th Big Book was presented to a representative of the American Medical Association.

Meeting Phil and friend was a HIGHLIGHT of this trip!!!!!

Well, I'm off to a meeting! Thanks for listening. I'll keep comin' back.

DG

[cpn1004]

DG, thanks for a great report. Michael and I heard a similar story in one of the smaller (300 people) meetings from a guy that almost died, lived on the streets and now is a doctor and mayor of a city in California. His practice helps people with addictions too.

I had two simple objectives for San Antonio: a) say the Serenity prayer with 50,000 + people, b)meet DG from MYO.
So it was a successful trip for me. The bonus was just hanging out on the River Walk, smoking cigars, listening to Jazz and seeing thousands of smiling faces of people wearing the green lanyard.

Oh, at my 630am meeting today there was a fellow from PA that was passing through after the San Antonio convention. How cool?!

[retteacher]

What awesome posts from you guys! It was just exactly what I needed this morning. I'm anxious to hear from some of our locals about their experiences as well.

I'm doing quite well. Many thanks for your encouraging words. Yes, we went through something difficult...& in fact are still journeying through this. But, sober is so much better. I haven't had a moment when I wanted a drink...even Sunday when I hit a bit of a low. I just prayed, went to a meeting yesterday, & it passed. 2 years ago I DEFINITELY would have had a drink. No question! Today, not so. Today, I can get through anything w/the tools of the program & of course, the fellowship. We're waiting on the pathology report which should be in at the end of the week. We're prepared for anything but (of course) hoping none of the cancer spread.

Mary

[Doggygirl]

Phil, that is an awesome report of the PA man "passing through" your home group meeting. When they asked for announcements in my HG meeting today, I mentioned that the 2015 International will be in Atlanta and I hope lots of us go. Heck, if we all put a dollar in the jar every day for it, we could not only go but stay someplace really really nice!!!!!

Mary, you have really learned how to use the tools of the program to keep yourself on track. That is such a good example for all of us to see. My room mate on the trip had an experience during the convention where she wanted to drink and felt alone. Right there in the middle of over 50,000 fellow AAers. She chaired the meeting this morning and it's an "open topic" meeting, and this was the topic. What I took away from her sharing about this at the convention, and our discussion about it this morning is:

* I must never take sobriety for granted.
* I must always be willing to ask for help, in any situation.
* I must keep my program strong and my tools nearby at all times.

The Big Book says that I will get a daily reprieve from the compulsion to drink based on a fit spiritual condition. NOT a "religious" condition but a spiritual one. To me, this speaks to my need to be humble and grateful and willing to help others rather than selfish and pride/ego driven and operating based on fears. I have not had the compulsion to drink in a long time for which I am very grateful. But that can change quickly. I need to be living the values taught in this fellowship each day, one day at a time.

Asking for help is especially hard for me some times. That's fear and pride and ego at work. LOL - we had a chance to practice asking for help when the battery kept dying in the rental car. One thing we both learned from THAT experience was that many AAers will absolutely go out of their way to help, and do it with a great attitude.

I am very proud and grateful to be a member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

DG

[Cherbear]

Hi DG, Mary , Phil!and others

This is a great thread to look forward too.
I'm so new to AA and when DG said it was hard to ask for help , Thats me!! I've been to several meetings and when they asked for a raise of hands that would be willing sponsors. no one raised them. I am wondering if I should go to some different meetings. I know every meeting has a different feel. I don't have a sponsor yet.... and thats ok I guess, but that is probably because I don't lke to ask for help either?? control...ego uh oh that could get me in trouble.
I am staying positive though and just not drink and go to meetings and It will work out.
You guys are a big help too!!
have a great day everyong.

Cher

[retteacher]

Cher: If someone shares, has some sober time behind her, & she resonates w/you, there would be nothing wrong w/asking her for her phone #. You'll start to get to know the people w/good program. I was told to "hang out w/the winners." In the meantime, keep going to meetings.

DG: Your post reminds me never to take my sobriety for granted. My sponsor has said that your sobriety is very precious & should be protected. I know that I could become vulnerable to a drink at any time.

Regarding asking for help: This crisis w/Patty has taught me that people WANT to help. I dropped the kids off at camp this AM, & one of the moms said: "Please let me help...it would make me feel good." I think I'll take her up on the play-date she offered...a break even for a few hours would be very welcome.

Gotta go!

Love, Mary

[Doggygirl]

Cherbear, I don't think you will ever go wrong getting out there and checking out a lot of different meetings. And as Mary suggested, ask for women's phone numbers, and CALL THEM! Helping others is a cornerstone of this program. We are taught that helping others helps keep us sober, and that nothing is more important than helping a newcomer.

Does this mean that everyone is perfect? No. So if you ever don't get a response you want, then just keep asking others.

Sponsorship is a pretty big committment. And a lot of times people are hesitant to agree to sponsoring someone until they get to know them a bit. And believe me, it's good for YOU to get to know people better as well. So you can find someone who truly has want you want, and then learn how they got there. Mean time, make LOTS of friends and contacts. This will be your army should you ever get in trouble with urges and need someone to talk you off the cliff.

I'm glad I've started branching out and getting to some different meetings, even though I really like my home groups!

Mary, you have a really good program going. That is clear from the strength you have found to handle your daughter's diagnosis and surgery and care. I look up to you. If you can do it, maybe I can too when/if that time comes for me.

DG

[rebirth]

Hi doggygirl. I would love to join this thread. I have been attending AA for nearly 18 months and the meetings have been a great help in getting me sober. I found this site initially overwhelming at first but I am getting more of an understanding as to where I would like to post.

Definitely this AA thread so hello everyone. Just introducing myself quickly as its midnight in the UK so I am off to sleep. x

[Cherbear]

Thanks DG and Mary for the advise!! I met a great gal today that didn't really say she would be a sponsor but I could tell she was sincere about me calling her.
Working through the urges is my number 1 priority and I know the only way I can be permanently successful at this is with me reaching out!
Welcome rebirth! I'm new to AA as you can tell but I'm sold!

I think my husband is a bit curious about all my meetings but is trying to be supportive. I told him he should come to a meeting sometime!


AA birthday 6/19/2010

[Funny Girl]

Not to be a killjoy or anything, but many of these stories are always about people who "bottomed out" early . . . .I never did that - I maintained high functioning levels with highly paid jobs while I was a toal addict & drug user who got into legal trouble at various times . . . .I guess my problem is I was never "glad to be alive" - I was always hoping to be dead. I apparently have a physical constitution that can endure almost anything & be healthy, so threat of death or losing it all was never my thing. Sobriety becomes extremely boring & I don't know how to combat that since I'm not "threatened by death" - any words of wisdom. I've played this out for 30 years or more . . . .I am sure I have stories that would embarass & ashame to prove it . . .thoughts???? god & meetings don't get it . . . .