AA only as good as the stories
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NH Seacoast, USA
Posts: 128
AA only as good as the stories
I went to 2 meetings this time around. I've been there in the past. I love the stories, but really, every time you speak, "Hi, Katie, alcoholic. I was just thinking about ... blah, blah, blah ... but if I stay committed to the program [10 years now] I can make it through today ...
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 215
Getting bored half to death by the same old war stories / drunkalogues ??
People talking about their car breaking down, their cat getting sick & the shower leaking ?
Talking about anything ... except how to get sober & how to stay sober ?
Your in some toxic meetings Bat Girl.
I'd recommend getting onto a website called XA speakers, search for a guy called 'Myers R' and downloading one of his talks.
Hopefully that'll put you on the path to some healthier meetings, where you can hear a message of a solution, a recovery & how to get it.
Enjoy
People talking about their car breaking down, their cat getting sick & the shower leaking ?
Talking about anything ... except how to get sober & how to stay sober ?
Your in some toxic meetings Bat Girl.
I'd recommend getting onto a website called XA speakers, search for a guy called 'Myers R' and downloading one of his talks.
Hopefully that'll put you on the path to some healthier meetings, where you can hear a message of a solution, a recovery & how to get it.
Enjoy
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NH Seacoast, USA
Posts: 128
Originally Posted by whalebelow 
Getting bored half to death by the same old war stories / drunkalogues ??
People talking about their car breaking down, their cat getting sick & the shower leaking ?
Talking about anything ... except how to get sober & how to stay sober ?
Your in some toxic meetings Bat Girl.
I'd recommend getting onto a website called XA speakers, search for a guy called 'Myers R' and downloading one of his talks.
Hopefully that'll put you on the path to some healthier meetings, where you can hear a message of a solution, a recovery & how to get it.
Enjoy
People talking about their car breaking down, their cat getting sick & the shower leaking ?
Talking about anything ... except how to get sober & how to stay sober ?
Your in some toxic meetings Bat Girl.
I'd recommend getting onto a website called XA speakers, search for a guy called 'Myers R' and downloading one of his talks.
Hopefully that'll put you on the path to some healthier meetings, where you can hear a message of a solution, a recovery & how to get it.
Enjoy
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,238
Recovery for me is not just not picking
up a drink. It means living life and dealing
with everyday life, cats, pets, spouses,
children, work, employees, bosses, shopping,
people, traffic etc, and not blowing up everytime
something goes wrong, when someone says
something negative, when we have a flat tire,
etc.
Do we pick up a drink, which was always
the quickest way for me to numb the pain,
and to not have to deal life on lifes terms?
We share whats going on with us in
daily life to others, that's without airing
out our dirty laundry in public, but to
share so others can pass on their own
experiences, strengths and hopes in
these situations with using recovery
tools, knowledge, suggestions so they
don't have to drink over them.
There are open meetings to share whats
going on with us in everyday life with feed
back using recovery, then there are Step
Studies to learn how to incorporate them
in all our affairs and Big Book Studies to
learn everything about alcoholism.
This of course is my way to stay sober
using AA, but there are many programs
available out there to use instead. All I
know is what was taught to me and it has
been affective in my own life for 24yrs.
Find something that works for you and
learn to stay sober for yrs. to come.
up a drink. It means living life and dealing
with everyday life, cats, pets, spouses,
children, work, employees, bosses, shopping,
people, traffic etc, and not blowing up everytime
something goes wrong, when someone says
something negative, when we have a flat tire,
etc.
Do we pick up a drink, which was always
the quickest way for me to numb the pain,
and to not have to deal life on lifes terms?
We share whats going on with us in
daily life to others, that's without airing
out our dirty laundry in public, but to
share so others can pass on their own
experiences, strengths and hopes in
these situations with using recovery
tools, knowledge, suggestions so they
don't have to drink over them.
There are open meetings to share whats
going on with us in everyday life with feed
back using recovery, then there are Step
Studies to learn how to incorporate them
in all our affairs and Big Book Studies to
learn everything about alcoholism.
This of course is my way to stay sober
using AA, but there are many programs
available out there to use instead. All I
know is what was taught to me and it has
been affective in my own life for 24yrs.
Find something that works for you and
learn to stay sober for yrs. to come.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,637
I live in a pretty small town, and even still, I have about seven different meetings to choose from. Each group has a slightly different feel. If I want to go on a little road trip, there's plenty others to check out here and there.
I don't go to AA every day, or even every week anymore. But, I still do go. I find it a great reminder and a source of inspiration. Though most of the meetings, people are a lot older than me; I look into their stories for what I might learn.
Even in the 'same old stories' - it seems I always find some new tidbit that made each meeting worth going to, when I go into it with that in mind.
I don't go to AA every day, or even every week anymore. But, I still do go. I find it a great reminder and a source of inspiration. Though most of the meetings, people are a lot older than me; I look into their stories for what I might learn.
Even in the 'same old stories' - it seems I always find some new tidbit that made each meeting worth going to, when I go into it with that in mind.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Reno, Nv
Posts: 873
Part of me loves AA, part of me hates AA. I like being around sober people, in earnest I've attempted to work the steps on and off. However, at times, it is a little to religious feeling for this atheistic guy. However, I am glad they exist, many times when I felt I needed a drink I showed up there and got good advice and an ear to listen.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 215
How to take the steps is in the book Alcoholics Anonymous.
It's not in 98% of the meetings, the message has been mostly been watered down to
Just go to meetings just don't drink.
I was atheist to the point of point blank refusing to go to aa for 7 years,
Booze changed my mind.
By the time I slid into my 2nd meeting with a seven year gap, I was defeated.
There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, it is spiritual not religious.
Saved my life.
It's not in 98% of the meetings, the message has been mostly been watered down to
Just go to meetings just don't drink.
I was atheist to the point of point blank refusing to go to aa for 7 years,
Booze changed my mind.
By the time I slid into my 2nd meeting with a seven year gap, I was defeated.
There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, it is spiritual not religious.
Saved my life.
Trudging the Road
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: western New York, USA
Posts: 117
This might be handy: it's from page 419 of the Big Book:
"I can do the same with thing with an AA meeting. The more I focus my mind on its defects-late start, long drunkalogs, cigarette smoke-the worse the meeting becomes. But when I try to see what I can add to the meeting, rather that what I can get out of it, and when I focus my mind on what's good about it, rather than what's wrong with it, the meeting keeps getting better and better. When I focus on what's good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what's bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on the problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases."
This might help to reframe the situation, to see meetings in a new perspective. You can also seek other meetings, if more are available where you live.
"I can do the same with thing with an AA meeting. The more I focus my mind on its defects-late start, long drunkalogs, cigarette smoke-the worse the meeting becomes. But when I try to see what I can add to the meeting, rather that what I can get out of it, and when I focus my mind on what's good about it, rather than what's wrong with it, the meeting keeps getting better and better. When I focus on what's good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what's bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on the problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases."
This might help to reframe the situation, to see meetings in a new perspective. You can also seek other meetings, if more are available where you live.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NH Seacoast, USA
Posts: 128
I think I would enjoy going once a week, maybe twice. Just not religiously (nothing to do with higher power, which I do believe in ).
I'm not trying to put down AA as I have read most of The Big Book and am thrilled for those that it does work well for. I find some of the stories quite good, in fact many members have spoken for so long that they are really good speakers. Then there are others who seem to be rote-speaking and I wonder, is that really it? Almost as if replacing an addiction for another; going from meeting to meeting day after day. If it makes them happy and it is successful for their sobriety that is truly awesome. Just not sure it's all that for me.
I also happen to have a very, very good support system at home, extended family, and friends which many do not have the fortune to have. I did not lose my job as many others have. I am fortunate to be a stay-at-home-mom and a family/husband who didn't give up on me or kick me to the curb.
Staying sober one day at a time and enjoying my health.
I might get the mother-of-the-year award this year for the first time in ages
). I'm not trying to put down AA as I have read most of The Big Book and am thrilled for those that it does work well for. I find some of the stories quite good, in fact many members have spoken for so long that they are really good speakers. Then there are others who seem to be rote-speaking and I wonder, is that really it? Almost as if replacing an addiction for another; going from meeting to meeting day after day. If it makes them happy and it is successful for their sobriety that is truly awesome. Just not sure it's all that for me.
I also happen to have a very, very good support system at home, extended family, and friends which many do not have the fortune to have. I did not lose my job as many others have. I am fortunate to be a stay-at-home-mom and a family/husband who didn't give up on me or kick me to the curb.
Staying sober one day at a time and enjoying my health.
I might get the mother-of-the-year award this year for the first time in ages
Molotov Kitty!
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Chicago IL
Posts: 60
I haven't been to an AA meeting. I am currently doing group and individual counseling.
I have listened to a lot of the speaker audios floating around the net and it is really good stuff... if your an alcoholic or not.... Just started that over the weekend. WAY better than the news...
best!
I have listened to a lot of the speaker audios floating around the net and it is really good stuff... if your an alcoholic or not.... Just started that over the weekend. WAY better than the news...
best!
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