boo

Hi,
What I mean is, if I am the only new person at a meeting, at the meeting topic is a certain thing, for the first time I speak at a meeting (I didn't at my first one Monday), do I just follow the topic or do I tell everyone why I started coming to meetings? It seems that everyone else in the room knows why each other person comes to meetings, so how did they find that out and still fit into the meeting topic? Thanks!

kitkat

Boo - at the meetings I have gone to usually the new people tell why they are there, but you can talk about anything you want. If you feel compelled to talk about the topic, then do so, but if you just want to get off your chest why you are there so they can learn more about you - then you should do that.

They've always told us that the open discussion time is just that - it's open to talk about whatever you want whether it relates to the topic or not.

Hope this helps!!
Kitkat

boo

Thanks Kitkat! That's half the reason i didn't talk on Monday-I felt like I shouldn't deviate from the topic-the topic was living the program-and obviously I was in no place to comment on that yet!

liddy

Boo
I think your doing very well if your ready to talk !
It took me many months,i would pass,my pain didnt
allow it and i wasnt ready for anyone to see me cry.
I've been in the program 16 mths now and its much
easier ( this from a person who is an introvert in life)
Do what is comfortable, this program is to give us some
relief from stress not cause any !
hugs
liddy

journeygal

Boo, as the other ladies have said, feel free to discuss anything you want! I'm also an introvert, but something happens to me when I go to meetings - I can't shut up! Not that I sit there sharing for 45 minutes, but I never pass my turn and I never have to figure out what to say. Sometimes I think I know what I'm going to talk about, and then it ends up being something completely different.

Anyway, don't worry about it. Just speak from the heart and the right words will always come.