TOPIC: Bikers, Newcomers, AA, NA. Quiet Happiness Inside.

[aasharon90]

The simplicity of the AA program teaches
me that happiness isn't something I can
"demand. "It comes upon me quietly, while
I serve others. In offering my hand to the
newcomer or to someone who has relapsed,
I find that my own sobriety has been
recharged with indescribable gratitude
and happiness.


Hi Im Sharon and Im an Alcoholic.

By the Grace of my HP and following
the program of AA set down before
me, I havent found it necessary to
pick up a drink of alcohol since
8-11-90.

For that and the fellowship here
in SR, I am truely grateful.

[Fulldresser4]

Thanks Sharon...I've found my peace and happiness through God, AA, and Celebrate Recovery (it's a biblically based 12-step program). And I have found love and acceptance and understanding through all of the above, and SR!

[TonyB]

I see where you are going with that Sharon and I agree with you. But I think there is more to it than just working with others. I realize that I'm a FNG (Fairly New Guy) as far as sobriety is concerned (8/05), but this is how it has worked for me.
It does help us to an extent to work selflessly with others. I think it is also important to see this: How did I get to true happiness?
That's a question I used to ask old timers when I first came to this program.
I did demand happiness to the extent that I resolved myself to not being a miserable SOB in sobriety. I wasn't going to be one of those people that hated every minute of their sobriety, because they were pissed that they couldn't drink. I was going to be happy and I still am going to be happy. And just like the "Promises" state, "I was going to know a new freedom". But still the question remained... How did you get there?
Working with others is great.... But if you are a wreck, you are going to bring your wreckage to others.
So, the answer I feel is three fold.
1: Get right with God
2: Get right with Self
3: Get right with others

These can only be experienced by staying sober, having a step sponsor and serious step work. It is important to clean up that wreckage of our past before we can move forward. I had things that were on me like a ton of bricks and I felt like I carried the weight of the world around.
I got to be free from that, by the grace of God; and I also have experienced true happiness. But it didn't come without work.
This program saved my life and that's no joke. I suffered for years in a pit of hopelessness. What AA has given me is this.... Hope for the hopeless...
I love my life today. I can love today. I can be loved. The most important is that I feel worthy of being loved. Not only by my fellow man, but also by God. The grace that He has given me is true love and has truly set me free.

Thanks Sharon for the topic... I love the way you drop in and start people thinking. God bless you.
TonyB

[aasharon90]

Sharing your ESH or EXPERIENCES, STRENGTHS
AND HOPES with me and others is great. This is
one way of helping each other in recovery.

I often wondered myself in early recovery
how so many before me aquired that happiness
each day just by going to meetings because i
felt so low back then.

Sure i had and still have my own faith in a
Power greater than I in tact. That Quiet
Strength inside to carry me thru those highs
and lows in recovery.

But still how does one in early recovery believe
this Strength can actually keep them sober
one day at a time as our program states.

I use to go to meeting after meeting toting
my tray of goodies as a means of service
work. Each time i went, i listened intently
and absorbed what was so freely shared
by many hardly ever speaking a word and
yet i felt hope that i could stay sober
one more day.

The more i repeated that routine on a daily
bases the more one days at a time were
collected to get me to where i am today.

Listening, absorbing and sharing to others
what i heard and giving it away to others
that would listen was a big help in my recovery.

However, within the past yr., i experience new
growth within myself. To know a new freedom
like i had never known was blessed upon me.

Why did it take so long one may ask.....
well.....to let go of old behavior, baggage,
isnt always easy. Just like it is to stay sober
one must give up the drink well so does
wreakage from the past to be happy. FREE.

To be HONEST in all my affairs not only with
me and others but to the Man upstairs. The
One knows all about me and yet it wasnt
until i got sick and tired of hiding that crap
inside me and finally let it go then and only
then did i experience a FREEDOM i had never
known before.

Today I continue on my journey quietly serving
others with my story and feeling Strength
from Above guiding me along as i enjoy the
gift of happiness.

Thanks for letting me share.

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by aasharon90

Why did it take so long one may ask.....
well.....to let go of old behavior, baggage,
isnt always easy.

If you find a short-cut to that, be sure to let us know.

After 31 years in AA, I'm still being confronted with (and confounded by) fears, resentments, and selfish behavior I thought I'd effectively dealt with years ago. That must be why Bill W. wrote *"Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear."

Fortunately, our Twelve Steps suggest I continue to take personal inventory, and then give me tools to work on what my inventory reveals. In fact, the very next sentence begins *"When these crop up..."

That's also why I have to keep coming back. I was blessed, early in sobriety, to see a lot of old-timers at my home group, who came back meeting after meeting. At the time, all I knew was that they were carrying the message to me. Now I realize that, like me, they probably needed to continue learning how to live this adventure called sobriety, a day at a time. We ain't cured, and we don't get to rest long on our laurels, Our disease is always in the bullpen, warming up for the next inning.

*Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Ed., pg. 84

[The_Hammer]

Good program Bill! I need a big dose of all the above-especially for resentments.

[aasharon90]

Made this reply into a new thread. Thanks