thinking back to one year & five months ago
thinking back to one year & five months ago
I read a lot of good stuff on these boards. Lots of ES&H from people who have been sober for decades, years, even weeks & months who have gained an invaluable wisdom from their personal experiences in recovery.
I'm also seeing a lot of postings from people who are "new" (first time quitting, still drinking, can't seem to stop, can't put more than two weeks together) and who feel like they *know* for a fact what they need/what they don't, what will/won't work for them, etc. when it comes to recovery.
I am talking mainly about the anti-AA posts, but this also includes any manner of judging something before one has had any depth of experience with it. (I am not immune to this.)
I just had a recollection of a few years ago, when I was still drinking and not planning to stop; the man who would become my first sponsor suggested that I try an AA meeting. I think my response was something akin to snorting out my beer and saying, "that's all fine for people like *you*, but I have an Ivy League degree..."
At that time, however, I was not looking for any kind of solution because I didn't have a problem. At least, maybe I had a little problem but certainly was not an alcoholic.
I did not seek recovery until I was so beaten down into a state of reasonableness that I had no business rejecting what anyone had to offer. So I came to AA after a 30-day inpatient rehab (we'll see if it *really* worked...only sober a year and five months here...) even though I knew AA was a deeply flawed anachronism that should have died off years ago.
In other words, I swallowed my contempt of something I had no experience with whatsoever because I needed to save my life. That open-mindedness, combined with the willingness to persist in a few simple actions every day, is the key to my sobriety today.
Today I don't need to know anything: I don't need to know whether AA works or if my higher power is a doorknob or a pair of swim goggles. All I know is that I am sober and happy, joyous, free.
I'm also seeing a lot of postings from people who are "new" (first time quitting, still drinking, can't seem to stop, can't put more than two weeks together) and who feel like they *know* for a fact what they need/what they don't, what will/won't work for them, etc. when it comes to recovery.
I am talking mainly about the anti-AA posts, but this also includes any manner of judging something before one has had any depth of experience with it. (I am not immune to this.)
I just had a recollection of a few years ago, when I was still drinking and not planning to stop; the man who would become my first sponsor suggested that I try an AA meeting. I think my response was something akin to snorting out my beer and saying, "that's all fine for people like *you*, but I have an Ivy League degree..."
At that time, however, I was not looking for any kind of solution because I didn't have a problem. At least, maybe I had a little problem but certainly was not an alcoholic.
I did not seek recovery until I was so beaten down into a state of reasonableness that I had no business rejecting what anyone had to offer. So I came to AA after a 30-day inpatient rehab (we'll see if it *really* worked...only sober a year and five months here...) even though I knew AA was a deeply flawed anachronism that should have died off years ago.
In other words, I swallowed my contempt of something I had no experience with whatsoever because I needed to save my life. That open-mindedness, combined with the willingness to persist in a few simple actions every day, is the key to my sobriety today.
Today I don't need to know anything: I don't need to know whether AA works or if my higher power is a doorknob or a pair of swim goggles. All I know is that I am sober and happy, joyous, free.
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
I left my first AA meeting at half time.
Geez! I was not that sick
3 years later...I returned ...more depressed and suicidal.
I would have stood on my head and whistled Dixie
if that was what the AA's required....
No...all they asked was if I had a desire to quit drinking
if so... could teach me how they were succeeding.
I did and so did they.
Thanks for sharing FI....Forward we go...
Geez! I was not that sick
3 years later...I returned ...more depressed and suicidal.
I would have stood on my head and whistled Dixie
if that was what the AA's required....
No...all they asked was if I had a desire to quit drinking
if so... could teach me how they were succeeding.
I did and so did they.
Thanks for sharing FI....Forward we go...
Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 4,682
It's so true, i haven't gone to AA yet but have been going to counselling twice a week and am taking some meds. I would have done anything to sober up, i know some people don't like the phrase rock bottom, call it what you will, but even 4 months ago i would have said yeah im an alchie sad isnt it wish i could stop whilst raising a large glass of wine, and the rest, every night!
day 105, i'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to catch you up FightingIrish;-) Obviously one day at a time:-)
day 105, i'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to catch you up FightingIrish;-) Obviously one day at a time:-)
Congrats Irish & yeahgr8 on your sober time.
Irish I to was like you, I knew it all, I was well educated and was able to do anything I put my mind to....... except stop drinking. Oh trust me I tried for many years, all i succeeded in doing was drinking to the point of having to be medically detoxed in order to go a full day without a drink.
It sure sounds like you were granted the same great gift I was granted, the gift of desperation!!!!
I did not want to die!!! When I went to AA I was willing to try anything, I dropped all of my preconcieved ideas and prejudices I had and was willing to do what ever it took to get and stay sober.
Once I opened my ears and listened & apraoched it with an open mind I was able to see and accept that if all of those people in those rooms were staying sober and being happy to boot I was willing to do what they did.
Irish I to was like you, I knew it all, I was well educated and was able to do anything I put my mind to....... except stop drinking. Oh trust me I tried for many years, all i succeeded in doing was drinking to the point of having to be medically detoxed in order to go a full day without a drink.
It sure sounds like you were granted the same great gift I was granted, the gift of desperation!!!!
I did not want to die!!! When I went to AA I was willing to try anything, I dropped all of my preconcieved ideas and prejudices I had and was willing to do what ever it took to get and stay sober.
Once I opened my ears and listened & apraoched it with an open mind I was able to see and accept that if all of those people in those rooms were staying sober and being happy to boot I was willing to do what they did.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)