Originally Posted by
TigerLili 
Someone advised me to listen for the stories of recovery rather than the stories of drinking, or drunkalogues as they are sometimes called. I also try and go to meetings that have a purpose such as 'As Bill Sees It', Steps meetings, Voices in Recovery and so forth, rather than general speakers meetings where people just tell their stories. Listening to people list off what they used to drink and how much fun they had would be hard for me even now.
Trying to surround yourself with people working on the SOLUTION to their alcoholism is light-years ahead of hanging around folks who want to live in and reminisce about their insanity from the days they were in their addiction. Finding a group of people actually doing that can be tough. That's why I try to advise newcomers to try a bunch of different meetings.