Geographic, Demographic and Ideological Differences
It`s ok to stay sober
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Central NC
Posts: 20,903
Mark,down here there is a saying,if you have a meeting where anything goes,pretty soon,no one will go
we relax and take it easy,and most of our meetings in our district are pretty much the same,big book meetings,steps and tradition studys,speaker meetings.
there is one group here who is pretty bad....
we relax and take it easy,and most of our meetings in our district are pretty much the same,big book meetings,steps and tradition studys,speaker meetings.
there is one group here who is pretty bad....
Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Zion, Illinois
Posts: 3,411
Originally Posted by Music 
AA was and is strong ...reaching anyone interested
in living our way of recovery
To me, this is all that counts. People who live AA, work the steps and stick to the traditions. They tend to stay sober and live a more happy and productive life, realizing that fourth dimension of existance Bill referred to. Those who insist on "living our way of recovery" usually don't stay sober. If they do they continue to be miserable: nervous, irritable and discontent. I've asked a few "why stay sober if you're still going to be miserable?" That's not what AA is about. They don't seem to have an answer. People, places and things do make a difference where meetings are concerned, but not where AA is concerned. AA is consistent and it works.
in living our way of recovery
To me, this is all that counts. People who live AA, work the steps and stick to the traditions. They tend to stay sober and live a more happy and productive life, realizing that fourth dimension of existance Bill referred to. Those who insist on "living our way of recovery" usually don't stay sober. If they do they continue to be miserable: nervous, irritable and discontent. I've asked a few "why stay sober if you're still going to be miserable?" That's not what AA is about. They don't seem to have an answer. People, places and things do make a difference where meetings are concerned, but not where AA is concerned. AA is consistent and it works.
I re-read my post and realized that what I meant to say is, "those who insist on NOT living our way of recovery"....blah,blah,blah..You know what I mean!
God's Kid
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,820
At times I wonder how I stayed sober going to groups in my local area. I assume it is because I had a sponsor who lived in the city (30 mins away) and shared the program with me.
Round here, you don't have to get a sponsor or work the steps but you can do service (and boss everyone around) and you can share about anything for as long as you want, regardless of time or how many others are in the meeting or what time the meeting finshes.
You can also smoke dope and gamble excessively. More benefits include being able to attend AA for 20 years and despite lapsing a lot, claim 20 years of soberity which is recognised by other members - there's a few of these.
I'm sure you get the point. It's quite bad. Sometimes it's worse than others. But as I said, I stayed sober attending for so many years before choosing to go into the city to meetings which IMO healthier.
Round here, you don't have to get a sponsor or work the steps but you can do service (and boss everyone around) and you can share about anything for as long as you want, regardless of time or how many others are in the meeting or what time the meeting finshes.
You can also smoke dope and gamble excessively. More benefits include being able to attend AA for 20 years and despite lapsing a lot, claim 20 years of soberity which is recognised by other members - there's a few of these.
I'm sure you get the point. It's quite bad. Sometimes it's worse than others. But as I said, I stayed sober attending for so many years before choosing to go into the city to meetings which IMO healthier.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: london, england
Posts: 184
yes there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that.
there you will find release from care and boredom.
your imagination will be fired.
life will mean something at last.
for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey.
you will learn the full meaning of "love thy neighbor.
SORRY FOLKS, I HAVENT BEEN TO ANY MEETING ROUND HERE LIKE THAT !!
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO EXCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE.
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN,
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. :praying
there you will find release from care and boredom.
your imagination will be fired.
life will mean something at last.
for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey.
you will learn the full meaning of "love thy neighbor.
SORRY FOLKS, I HAVENT BEEN TO ANY MEETING ROUND HERE LIKE THAT !!
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO EXCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE.
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN,
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. :praying
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