Blackhawkfan

About 70 days sober here after an outpatient program. Average 5 a week.

Mountainmanbob

that's cool Blackhawkfan
AA meeting attendance can be of much help for us staying sober
I went through treatment many years ago now
then attended after care there for many months
a few of us stayed in touch for many years after treatment
my best friend from treatment years later committed suicide
while he was yet in another treatment center
he was a very intelligent man
but
the one thing that he shared with me that he did not understand
regarding the AA Program was -- a Higher Power

Our constant struggle to make contact with our loving Creator is not easily achieved in organized religion, because typically organized religion does not understand the alcoholic's problem. The problem is the EGO, the sum total of all the lies we have told ourselves. The Elimination of Ego-Self is the answer. The ONLY answer. As the EGO leaves, the Creator rushes in to fill the void. That's how it works. The EGO is our enemy, not the religion fabricated "Devil".

All of AA's 12 Steps and the fellowship are Ego deflating spiritual guides that ultimately teach us how to LOVE and experience the wise man's two rules in all our affairs, as we discover and learn truly that we, each of us, is a localized intimate manifestation of the Creator's Divinity.

Mountainman

Alcoholics Anonymous recommends a return to religion, resumption of Church attendance, the news report said of Bill's remarks. "There is a definite religious element here," Bill said. "I pray and I feel released." He emphasized, said the newspaper, "Divine Aid was A.A.'s greatest asset...."

After quoting Bill Wilson's statements, the paper detailed some of Dr. Bob's remarks. The newspaper said the audience rose to its feet in tribute to Dr. Bob. It continued that Dr. Bob spoke "in soft, confident and unhurried words [where] he too reiterated the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous." According to The Tidings, Dr. Bob said: "Read religious literature. Resume church attendance, cultivate the habit of prayer, and transmit the desires and principles of Alcoholics Anonymous to others." The paper added: "He particularly recommended reading the Bible."

Mountainmanbob

Mountainmanbob

I remember many years ago when I was sober (one of the other times sober)
I was sectary of an afternoon meeting for 18 months
this didn't make me stay sober
but -- after giving up this position I did drink in not much time

so anyway I went to the business meeting and got my new position
Friday morning sectary position of the Jump Start Meeting
I know that this will be very good for me
it's been a long time since I have given anything back to AA

reminds me
why not hit a meeting on this morning also (Thur)
think I will get ready to go to that
a good day wished for all
Bob

matt4x4

12 step meetings are meetings where they actually automatically have a step for a topic based on the day or week. I do not know how many of those I attend, but I know the group I attend are serious about recovery and usually bring up a step or tradition no matter what, but the usuals are normally brought up as well. Honesty, Open-Mindedness, Willingness, H-A-L-T, Joy, Freedom etc. I always bring a step into any topic no matter what.

Mountainmanbob

purpose of the thread here Matt was (is)
meetings in general that use 12 Steps for recovery
could be any of the following or possibly others not mentioned

AA
NA
Al-Anon
Alateen
Celebrate Recovery (Christian based)
Overcomers (Christian based)
Overeaters
there is also a cancer based 12 Step meeting in San Diego

or as you have mentioned 12 Step meetings
that work a particular Step during the meeting

all of the above would be included

MM

matt4x4

Gotcha, thanks MM, what about nicotine anonymous, and sex anonymous, Bulemia anonymous and the other 300 or so of meetings.

Understood, just any meeting in general in whatever fellowhip follows the 12 steps. Well I guess I used to do like 3 or 4 meetings a day for a year, still got drunk. I joined groups that had good looking women in em, other groups I joined for the nice couches, or the cool air conditioning. Now I do a meeting a week sometimes 2 a week and work the 12 steps everyday, with a homegroup that has a solid AA message, with solid AA members.

Mountainmanbob

thanks Matt yes all those and others welcome

sounds like you are working a good Program today

yes I remember going to meetings only for the nice looking Ladies in attendance
they never helped me to stay sober

MM

Mountainmanbob

took that sectary position at my home group Friday morning AA meeting
I haven't had a commitment in AA for a very long time
just because I have 6 years of sobriety
I see no reason to slack in any way on my Program

I went to an AA meeting yesterday - Tuesday

was going to go to a meeting today Wednesday
but -- I got a little lazy here on this morning
still just a little tired and sore from a knee operation last Friday

God willing and the creek don't rise
I will be back at my sectary position this Friday

if so that would make two meetings for the week

Mountainman

Dime

I answered never (I'm 6+yrs). In the beginning I did 200 mtgs. in the first 100 days. There was two 12 step meetings available I attended, 1 Big Book, 1 newcomers and the rest were open discussion. Basically I went to everything I could and it was just what I needed. Now I live in a rural area with a very limited number of meetings. There are 2 good ones 20 miles away I go to and I still attend meetings at the rehab hosp I attended 60 miles. There are a lot of meetings I do not attend here, lots of smoker meetings. Others I just do not feel comfy in. In the big town there were tons of meetings everywhere and all different types and it was easy to find meetings I enjoyed.

Now that I live in a rural area I really feel for new folks starting out. I'm not sure I would have made it if I started out here.

1newcreation

Back @ my HOMEGROUP in ga, went every Mon night but since moving here I've only been to 1 out of roughly 20+ mtgs. Makes me appreciate & read my 12&12 all the more

thisisme

Never.

Mountainmanbob

off to the desert -- Borrego Springs
love the AA meetings out there
over the years I have met a lot of good friends at the Borrego Springs Alano Club
MM

LBrain

2 many

Mountainmanbob

kind of one of those days in which
not sure what to do this morning
so -- it's probably best that I go to a meeting
M-Bob

gardendiva

Never. I use RR and self study.

I am open to the option of going in the future if I think it would be helpful.

Johnston

Can't do them any more. I think the moral code is great but I can't stomach the god talk.

Mountainmanbob

yes - that name offends some

I think that's how it was meant to be ??

M-Bob

Johnston

The name doesn't offend me at all. It's the incessant name dropping that does.

desypete

the only requirement for membership to aa is a desire to stop drinking, no one has to believe in a god at all its not a requirement for membership.