Your First Meeting

[Carol87]

At my home group meeting this morning the topic centered around the fellowship, a reading from 'There is a Solution' and what it was like, what happened and what it is like now. Some great shares, many of them talking about their reactions at their first meeting.

That reminded me of my first 12 Step meeting when I swore that no way in hell was anyone going to HUG ME!! What I will always remember from my first AA meeting includes the LAUGHTER. It was amazing how much fun 'those people' were having! I also vividly remember who was sitting in the front row, where I sat, who chaired that meeting and who asked him but I have no idea what the topic was. And I was so amazed at the number of young people ... of course, EVERYONE is younger than me! Beyond that, it is a blur ... after all it WAS 19 years ago ...

Unfortunately for much too long, I was around AA but not IN AA. Today is so different .. I will stand in your face until you give me a hug! And rare is a meeting when we don't erupt in laugher several times! Today everyone is still much younger than me but I'm so glad they are there ... I have learned from them and often look at them and think 'why didn't I get here at your age?' But, I still don't always remember the topic after I get home ... unless, of course, I'm the chair person
Your first meeting ???

[coachj26]

Carol-thanks for reminding me of my first meeting. it wasn't 19 years ago as but I remeber saying "no way in hell was i holding another mans hand" Well it's been 22 months and I have held many hands every morning since...
Even the newbies forget stuff...
Thanks again...
CoachJ

[CarolD]

I really had 2 first meetings!

I was not ready when I went to the furst furst.

I fled from my 1st meeting in horror,..
"OMG..who are these weirdos? I am not this sick!!"


2/3 years later I returned...I was now defeated.
"Hello...I am a drunk and I need help."

All I remember for several months was a banner over the door
"Keep Coming Back It Works"

I did and it has!!..

[fraankie]

"....What I will always remember from my first AA meeting includes the LAUGHTER....."

well, not my first meeting
but
i remember calling my sponsor and saying "these people are laughing"
sort of at themselves
it was like i never knew people like this existed
who went thru the hell of alcoholism
and
could laugh again

good post



best
fraankie

[chip]

At my first meeting, somebody shouted "chip" right after everyone said "keep coming back". What I heard was "keep coming back...CHIP!!!!". I've been going since.

Thanks for the wonderful "remember when", Carol.
chip

[findingout]

My first meeting was in N.A. because a very beautiful girl in my treatment program asked me to go and because I had somehow decided that it would be "cooler" to attend N.A. meetings instead of A.A. meetings. That first meeting blew me away and totally destroyed most of my carefully crafted excuses why 12 step programs were just not for me. The level of honest communication taking place was amazing to me. The much younger guy who was chairing bought me my N.A. basic text. Today, I look back on getting up and receiving my white surrender key tag as the exact moment my life started to change for the better.

My first A.A. meeting didn't happen until 90 days in and even though I knew that everything was going to be OK, I still had to circle around the church three times before I summoned the courage to park my car and enter. My original plan had been to skip right past the part where they ask if anyone is attending their very first A.A. meeting and introduce myself as someone attending from another group. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I was so freaking nervous that as soon as they said "Is anyone attending their very first A.A. meeting", I stood up, introduced myself, and sat down as quickly as possible. Again, I was blown away by the friendliness and honesty. That group happened to meet three times a week and I was there at every meeting for the next eight months until I was able to find the courage to try a different meeting. All that time I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for someone to try to force me to do something or believe something or make me feel uncomfortable for being myself... and it never happened.

I don't know (and can never know) if it would have been possible for me to get sober without all of my friends in N.A. and A.A. helping me. I believe it would have been harder and not as much fun and in some way I can't quite put into words, not worth as much to me. And that is the exact opposite of how I felt when I started this journey.

[Found]

My first AA meeting was 20 years ago and I thought it was the bees' knees and a man with a beard was in it and after the meeting his little boy came to fetch him at the door.

So why have I not kept it up more than three years at a time (at a weekly or more frequent rate)?

I know it is still there for me the sixth time round, tomorrow night.

They don't just say, "come back" they say "keep coming back". They don't mean every few years they mean every few days!

Once I was a meeting secretary almost every week for nine months. Some meetings they started without me while I was driving through the winding roads to the meeting!

[jlo34]

My very first meeting...oh...I felt so hopeless, helpless, ashamed and scared that day. Everything was going to heck...I was being found out at school, at work, the cops were always following me, I just wanted to die because I couldn't find one good reason to live. My mom set up another high school gal (and her friend) to pick me up and take me to my first meeting. I remember there being a lot of people (it was in the cafeteria of a hospital). My head hung in shame...unwilling to talk to anyone. The girls that took me introduced me to several people...I didn't say anything, I never looked up. We broke into groups and the girl that gave me the ride stayed with me...I'm not sure if I was glad she did or not...I felt I had no business there...I don't think I really "HEARD" anything...I was too busy indulging in my anger and rage...comparing...screaming in my head....I wasn't ready. I stayed dry for 6 months and went to meetings...the seeds took root and after many "qualification relapses to prove that yes, I indeed AM an alcoholic" the seeds began to sprout when I was put into a juvenile alcohol/drug treatment center. I was able to see the progression my drinking had made through the past year of being in and out of AA. I was really scared and a lot more willing to "save" myself. Fear of death overpowered my fear of living I guess.

My next "first meeting" getting out of treatment...well, it was like...being home. All of my friends were there, welcoming me home. I felt like I was returning to a family reunion. I was ready to listen and do as I was told (for the most part). That's when I learned how many people had been scared for my well-being and how many people told me that they had been praying diligently for me...hoping I would find my way.

Thanks for the reminder...so grateful not to be there today. That was such a painful part of my life...I forget how horrible that time in my life was...grateful to be living with peace and serenity today.

Blessings,
Jen

[Chy]

*LOL*.. I was so scared I don't remember it.. I remember two gentleman who greeted me of whom I still adore to this day.. my serogate dads... the rest is a blur... LOL.. but I remember wishing I got my ass there sooner.

[laurie6781]

My first meeting was over 25 years ago. I do not remember a single thing that was 'said.' However, I remember the FEELING I got.

It was warm, there was no fear. I saw the twinkle in the eyes of those attending. I saw when they smiled the smile went all the way to their eyes. I heard when they laughed it came all the way from their belly, true laughter.

When that meeting was over and I returned to the Recovery House, I had HOPE. My first meeting gave me HOPE that maybe, just maybe I could do this. I could be like 'them', something I hadn't been in a LONG LONG TIME.

Love and hugs,