New here, but not to recovery
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: the real world
Posts: 166
New here, but not to recovery
Hi everyone! I've been kinda lurking and thought it was time to actually *belong.*
I've been clean/sober for some time now - but I only let myself acknowledge my length of time about a month before my "birthday," which is coming up in less than 3 weeks! Trying to get my grown son to come to the meeting where I'll get my 25 year chip
AA literally saved my life and has been keeping me sober and reasonably sane thru some unbelievably insane happenings. I love that I can walk into any meeting and feel like I'm home. [That did take a while to accomplish!] The people of AA are my family. I still hit 2 - 4 meetings a week and would do more if I drove and/or didn't live in such a little, bitty town!
Life has been throwing some just plain bizarre stuff my way lately
and somethings are hard to share in meetings here because I swear everyone in the world knows my husband!
I'm glad to be here!
I've been clean/sober for some time now - but I only let myself acknowledge my length of time about a month before my "birthday," which is coming up in less than 3 weeks! Trying to get my grown son to come to the meeting where I'll get my 25 year chip
AA literally saved my life and has been keeping me sober and reasonably sane thru some unbelievably insane happenings. I love that I can walk into any meeting and feel like I'm home. [That did take a while to accomplish!] The people of AA are my family. I still hit 2 - 4 meetings a week and would do more if I drove and/or didn't live in such a little, bitty town!
Life has been throwing some just plain bizarre stuff my way lately
and somethings are hard to share in meetings here because I swear everyone in the world knows my husband! I'm glad to be here!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,237
25 yrs sober is Amazing and what an
AWESOME GIFT to achieve.
Congratulations..!!!!
We have a strong AA family here in SR
too, very similar to those in AA meetings.
We sit here in front of our computers
continuing to pass on our own ESH to
many who are looking for help, guidance,
courage, strength and hope to remain
sober one day at a time.
Passing the knowledge of addiction and
recovery that continues to plague so many
today as we continue our own journey in
life.
Welcome.
AWESOME GIFT to achieve.
Congratulations..!!!!
We have a strong AA family here in SR
too, very similar to those in AA meetings.
We sit here in front of our computers
continuing to pass on our own ESH to
many who are looking for help, guidance,
courage, strength and hope to remain
sober one day at a time.
Passing the knowledge of addiction and
recovery that continues to plague so many
today as we continue our own journey in
life.
Welcome.
Forum Leader
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 16,945
Welcome to SR Darkling and congrats on your sobriety. We'd love to have you as part of our family here on SR as well, hope you can stick around. I'm certain you would have knowledge and experience that will help us too so feel free to join in the discussions.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: the real world
Posts: 166
Originally Posted by ScottFromWI 
Welcome to SR Darkling and congrats on your sobriety. We'd love to have you as part of our family here on SR as well, hope you can stick around. I'm certain you would have knowledge and experience that will help us too so feel free to join in the discussions.
But the funny thing is, the longer I'm sober, the less I actually know . . .
[which is good cuz it means I "have to" keep coming back!]
it's not 25 years til Feb. 9! Then, I'll get my chip at my home group on the 15th 
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 985
I also have a life-long relationship with AA/NA, though mine is not continuous - I had some substantial relapses & leavings within those years. Nonetheless, the program is my home as though it were my beloved childhood religion - woven into all my adult beliefs.
Still, AA is a real-life social network in which I do not always (pragmatically, & possibly correctly) feel I can be fully open. Whether because of work connections, or social ones, or relationship inter-connection. SoberRecovery has offered me that privacy in these last few years. I feel able to fully share here in a unique way.
I'm sure that if someone worked really hard at it, they could figure out who I am in real life; there are a thousand clues in the honesty of my posts. But - since I have to find one place in the universe to trust - I have found this to be the very best sobriety community for me.
My sponsor says that because it is not face-to-face, SR does not offer accountability. I think that depends on how you approach it. For me, I have far greater accountability in a place where I am utterly honest. Faces don't matter if you wear a mask in their presence. I am more myself here than there, & for me that has great value!
This is my actual "home group."
Welcome. I think the two communities are fully complementary!
Still, AA is a real-life social network in which I do not always (pragmatically, & possibly correctly) feel I can be fully open. Whether because of work connections, or social ones, or relationship inter-connection. SoberRecovery has offered me that privacy in these last few years. I feel able to fully share here in a unique way.
I'm sure that if someone worked really hard at it, they could figure out who I am in real life; there are a thousand clues in the honesty of my posts. But - since I have to find one place in the universe to trust - I have found this to be the very best sobriety community for me.
My sponsor says that because it is not face-to-face, SR does not offer accountability. I think that depends on how you approach it. For me, I have far greater accountability in a place where I am utterly honest. Faces don't matter if you wear a mask in their presence. I am more myself here than there, & for me that has great value!
This is my actual "home group."
Welcome. I think the two communities are fully complementary!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: the real world
Posts: 166
Originally Posted by heartcore
. . . SoberRecovery has offered me that privacy in these last few years. I feel able to fully share here in a unique way.
. . .
My sponsor says that because it is not face-to-face, SR does not offer accountability. I think that depends on how you approach it. For me, I have far greater accountability in a place where I am utterly honest. Faces don't matter if you wear a mask in their presence. I am more myself here than there, & for me that has great value!
. . .
My sponsor says that because it is not face-to-face, SR does not offer accountability. I think that depends on how you approach it. For me, I have far greater accountability in a place where I am utterly honest. Faces don't matter if you wear a mask in their presence. I am more myself here than there, & for me that has great value!
The topic at my home group last week was "online meetings." 99% think it's a stupid waste of time. [Of course they've never tried it and aren't really "into" the internet . . .] But I've always gotten alot out of them. There is absolute anonymity and I appreciate that alot. I swear the entire world knows [and loves] my husband. That makes it a wee bit difficult to share - even just to an individual - when he and I are having difficulties.
I totally agree about "wearing a mask." I'm either going to be honest and open, or I'm not. It took me way too long to figure out that if I don't take my mask off and let someone know what's going on in my head, I'm only hurting myself.
Really, isn't that who I'm really accountable to - myself??
And . . . with recovering people all over the world, you can pretty much always find someone who's awake and online. Can't figure out how that could be a bad thing!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: the real world
Posts: 166
Originally Posted by Done4today
Welcome Darkling!! Let us know your Birthday so we can honor it with a song, token and a cake.
YES! CAKE! My actual b-day is Feb 9, but not getting my chip til the 15th.
Personally, I think we should have cake on both days!
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: the real world
Posts: 166
Originally Posted by NYCDoglvr
I celebrated 25 years last October. I wouldn't be alive or sober without it, the support is incredible as is sponsoring other with less time. Congrats!
Funny, when I first came into AA, I was sure that anyone who said they had the ungodly length of 5 years sober/clean was an absolute liar . . .
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: the real world
Posts: 166
I used to wish that I'd never started.
But now, I realize that who I am today is due to where I've been and what I've had to work to overcome.
Today, I actually like myself. For me, that is huge!
But now, I realize that who I am today is due to where I've been and what I've had to work to overcome.
Today, I actually like myself. For me, that is huge!
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