aasharon90

Hi, Im am Sharon and Im an
Alcoholic.

By the grace of my HP and
people like you here in SR
I havent found it necessary
to pick up a drink of alcohol
since 8-11-90.

For that and you I am truely
grateful.


"Old-Timers vs New-Comers"

I was a newcomer when I
entered the doors of rehab
for the first time on
Aug.10, 1990 after family
stepped in with an intervention
to save my life. Doing for me
what I couldnt do for myself.


So many emotions going
on at that time within me.

As I began my recovery journey
I really had no clue as to what
lied before me. All i could do
was listen and watch what
was going on around me.

As I was fed information
and knowledge of my alcoholism
I had to allow it to absorb
in my mind.

As babies, children, teens,
we look for guidance, teachers,
parents, grandparents, those
who already had experiences,
strenghts and hopes to share
with us.

We rely on them and their own
knowledge to guide us.

For someone who tried so
many times to stop drinking
on my own, I failed that many
times.

It was time to surrender, swallow
my pride and rely on people
stronger than I to help me.

20 yrs ago, I sat in AA meetings,
shy, listening to fellow AA members
with long term sobriety share with
me of how AA worked for them.

I was told to listen and take
the knowledge I wanted and
leave the rest.

I suppose im an "old-timer"
by now even if i remain teachable
and feel young at 50. yah..!

Old timers managed to stay
sober by doing something
right. Right? Whatever way
worked for them then Im
willing to listen.

I don't always agree with
their tactics but i get the
picture of how recovery
works.

I apply the tools and knowledge
to my everyday affairs and
share honestly my own ESH
with the newcomer or anyone
who wishes to listen in order
to stay sober myself.

I RESPECT my elders and
RESPECT the newcomers
as I remain teachable to
learn from each, even today
some 20 yrs later.

Thank you SR.
Thank you AA.
Thank you HP.

jamdls

I hope when I reach 20 yrs that I still have the compassion and desire to help newcomers as you do Sharon, you are an inspiration.

aasharon90

When I asked a lady who
came to rehab doing service
work by taking us to outside
meetings to be my sponsor,
I saw in her what I wanted
for myself.

Her own desire to stay sober
by helping others in recovery.
By passing on the knowledge
of recovery that was so freely
passed on to her.

Passing it on...giving it away
in order to stay sober herself.

She never told me what to
do, but showed me the way
by her own action.

She suggested the many
things she did in her own
recovery to stay sober one
day at a time herself.

He passion for baking allowed
me to do the same. It was my
service work bringing baked
goods to all my meetings to
go along with the coffee.

This service work allowed
others to see me each day
showing up sober.

I was worried that I wasnt
speaking in meetings because
i was too nervous and my
sponsor remined me that
in meetings there r talkers
and there r listeners. That
meetings need both kinds
of people.

That when the time was right
Id know it and would then
speak.

Sure enough, there have been
times, even as recent as this
past Thursday that I was the
first one to speak at my meeting.

Amazing...!

Kindness, consideration, respect
will carry you a long way in
recovery.

And we do have many of those
people right here in SR.

That is why I am so grateful
to be in the company of many
right here in this awesome
SR fellowship.