2granddaughters

The oldtimers were there for me when I came and I try to be there for the newcomers today.

If I don't keep giving it away I will lose it, seen that many times over my 24 yrs.

It's alcohol"ISM" ... not alcohol"WASM". No cure, only a daily reprieve.

I'm getting a good balance in my life with AA at the top of the list, not the bottom. YMMV.

All the best.

Bob R

TexasBloom

pssst! Happy 5th today!

stugotz

I just cant live like that, way too gloomy and defeatist for me. Just sayin...

Threshold

me too.

I am always more inspired by seeing the rewards and benefits in a person's life than by fear and threats.

In election time, I want to know what good will come if I vote for someone, rather than them trying to scare me about "the other guy"

same with religion/philosophy, using various products, etc.

I met some awesome positive people in NA who truly inspire me. But there is a constant vein of fear in teh rooms.

Terms like "going out there", outside of the rooms, warnings about missing meetings and what will happen if we don't give it away, etc.

Thing is that we can share our sobriety in many areas of life and be purposeful examples of recovery outside "the rooms" as well.

truth is that the "fear factor" in the room, didn't scare me about relapse and recovery as much as it scared me about becoming a meeting junkie.

Certain attitudes and talk reminded me way too much of cult behavior than freedom.

ReadyAndAble

Awesome, Stu. Congrats on the five years—though for me, it's your attitude that's most inspiring. I'm lucky to have not only a reprieve, but a pardon. When I look back, it's to see how far I've come.

neferkamichael

Stugotz, 5 years? You are FANTASTIC. Congratulations.

Justfor1

My friend has 4yrs sober & we joke with him that his Harley Davidson is his higher power. Weren't you doing those jailhouse meetings?

stugotz

I was but due to my criminal history and security changes here I was taken off the list.

laurie6781

No joke here. My whole first year plus into recovery a Harley Davidson was MY Higher Power.

True I do joke about it now, but I was dead serious back then. And you know what? IT WORKED.

That is happening all over, in both State and Federal Prisons. We have both a state and a federal prison here, and friends who have been on the H & A Committee for years taking meetings into both institutions, have now been 'banned' as the 'security' rules have changed and because all 4 of them have done prison time (years and years ago) they are no longer eligible to go into the prisons. GO FIGURE. sheesh

Love and hugs,

stugotz

I am my Harleys Higher Power. Lol

SASA

congratulations Stu. Way to go....

FBL

Your posts are very inspiring. Thanks for sharing, Stu. Just sayin...