NoJimmy

This may have been done before, but I thought it would be an interesting thread to hear some of the profound things you've heard in meetings.

Man with 7 years of sobriety stated he had became complacent, to confident, and eventually gave in to AV and started drinking. Disgusted, he returned to AA where he heard something that changed his outlook.
He explained that he used to drink "no matter what", he now has 9 years since the relapse, and he doesn't drink "no matter what". He says he's now a member of the "no matter what club".

That really resonated with me, and I think about it often. I'm now a member of the "no matter what club" too.

soberclover

I'm a fan of the "no matter what club" too!

The other thing I remember that really has resonated with me despite the fact I don't attend meetings as much as I used to is when someone said "don't leave before the miracle happens". I'm a sucker for happy endings

deeker

me2

LuckyLaura

I really like that idea, the "no matter what" club. Count me in as a new member.

The best thing I've heard was at a women's meeting, where someone said to treat your new-found sobriety like a new-born baby. Taking good care of it should be our first priority: be kind to it, try to meet its needs, feed it nourishing foods, keep it warm and comfy, let it take naps whenever it wants.

Definitely works for me. I feel I deserve a little pampering for making such a major life change.

NoJimmy

That's a good one too

pattyj

The thing that worked for me was 'it gets better.' The first few months of sobriety royally sucked with detox and PAWS. I still have my days but at 7 months sober I am past all the bad physical stuff. And I will never repeat those days.

Boleo

Slogans, warstories and psychological tricks&tips never worked for me.

upandup

Sorry, couldn't resist

One person said of sponsoring "It's a ring side seat to a miracle." I thought that was rather poetic.

NoJimmy

You've never heard anything profound in a meeting?

alphaomega

I was moved by "I had better stay vigilant and on top of this because my addiction is out in the parking lot doing push-ups." And this from a woman with 25 years sobriety..

IOAA2

A few needed pearls I heard after 2 years of relapses:

KEEP COMING!

If we don't pick up the first drink we don't have to get sober AGAIN.

Hang out with the winners.

Meetings, meetings and more meetings even if we don't want to.

Get active.

BE WELL

Louise82

Not all of these are that profound but they've all stuck with me.

"Come for the drinking, stay for the thinking."

"If I don't pick up a drink today, I have a chance."

"Being an alcoholic is like being handcuffed to an idiot."

"When heavy drinkers stop drinking everything goes back to normal. When alcoholics stop drinking, they're still insane!"

"Once you become an alcoholic, you can't go back to being a normal drinker. Just like once you pickle a cucumber, you can't change the pickle back into a cucumber."

"Our dreams are black and white and small but God's dreams for us are in technicolour and bigger than we could ever imagine."

"I go to meetings to find out what happens to people who stop going to meetings."

beancounter26

Thanks for the laugh alphaomega! I love personifying this addiction. It makes it seem weak and ridiculous...not the strong and overpowering force that it would like you to think it is. "Out in the parking lot doing push-ups"...that is hilarious
lmao

Brian316

I've heard the same thing except it was a monkey on my back doing push-ups. Either way it's a great thing to remember!

chaili05

I was listening to an AA speaker online and discussing the difference between problematic drinkers and alcoholics he said "say a problem drinker and alcoholic are both arrested for DUIs and in the same cell. The problem drinker will be thinking 'hmm I KNEW I shouldn't have had the 5th drink' meanwhile the alcoholic will be thinking 'I KNEW I shouldn't have taken the I-5 freeway!'"

jazzfish

I always liked "It's not the 10th drink that gets you drunk, it's the first one."