Hello Roy,
I made a lot of good friends in AA...once I got over my reluctance to not be critical of every stupid 'share' that I heard at meetings. It turned out to be ME, and my inherent defense against anything I perceived outside of what was 'Normal' for Me.
It took some discomfort, and many awkward times of introducing myself then not knowing what to say, or calling someone by the wrong name, or....
One of my favorite quotes from the AA Big Book describes a tendency of mine I have to work at to overcome:
"'There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.'" - Herbert Spencer- Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Appendice II, Spiritual Experience, pg. 568~
Anyway, enough about me...I am just expressing that I made some good friends in AA...which was especially helpful because all I had previously were drinking acquaintances.
RDBplus3
