Day 11 - went to AA
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: canada
Posts: 748
Day 11 - went to AA
I went to my first AA meeting at lunch today. I was scared. People were warm and welcoming, and a lot of the people spent the hour talking directly to me as a first timer. It was intense. Those people don't mess around, and things get real. There was everything from people who looked homeless to sharply dressed business people. They all spoke from the same place. It was nothing like I imagined it would be. Sobriety for me just went to a whole other level today. They didn't call on me to talk, and it's a good thing because alcoholism just became something a lot bigger than my understanding of it - I'm still processing. I'm going back.
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: east coast
Posts: 451
Me too josharon. It makes me think something is seriously wrong with me. I just can't find a group off AA that I click with. Glad I'm not alone. I have found SR to be more helpful. But I'm determined to stop drinking with or without AA!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 462
Lance that's exactly how I felt too when I went to my first meeting! It took me a while to find a home group that I really connected with. For me it was going to a women's meeting. Try a bunch of different a meetings, they all have their own feel.
as a sober contributor
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: California
Posts: 1,312
Excellent Lance! Remember to look for the similarities and not the differences.
After you attend more meetings I believe it will become clear to you that in order to fully engage the program of AA, folks need to open up about themselves and share with the group honestly. Once you feel comfortable enough to talk, I suggest that you try and share a little bit about yourself. There is no need to lay everything on the line immediately, just a little about your background and the situation that brought you to the rooms, would be a good way to break the ice.
Once you are more comfortable, you will feel more at ease and will be able to express yourself to the group with the more details of your situation.
I suggest that you arrive early to meetings and stick around after to chat with folks and get to know them better. You may even start making some sober friends... I know that is what happened to me!
If you don't have the Big book yet, get one and start reading. The first 162 pages lay out the program and in the back are the stories of individuals who have changed their lives in AA. YOU CAN TOO!
Congratulations on walking into the rooms.
Good Luck!
After you attend more meetings I believe it will become clear to you that in order to fully engage the program of AA, folks need to open up about themselves and share with the group honestly. Once you feel comfortable enough to talk, I suggest that you try and share a little bit about yourself. There is no need to lay everything on the line immediately, just a little about your background and the situation that brought you to the rooms, would be a good way to break the ice.
Once you are more comfortable, you will feel more at ease and will be able to express yourself to the group with the more details of your situation.
I suggest that you arrive early to meetings and stick around after to chat with folks and get to know them better. You may even start making some sober friends... I know that is what happened to me!
If you don't have the Big book yet, get one and start reading. The first 162 pages lay out the program and in the back are the stories of individuals who have changed their lives in AA. YOU CAN TOO!
Congratulations on walking into the rooms.
Good Luck!
Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: C.C. Ma.
Posts: 3,697
Hi.
From my day I started AA I had a difficult time getting sober for too long. Probably the most important words I heard were “KEEP COMING.” That was a lot of sober years back and I repeat those words often to this day.
BE WELL
From my day I started AA I had a difficult time getting sober for too long. Probably the most important words I heard were “KEEP COMING.” That was a lot of sober years back and I repeat those words often to this day.
BE WELL
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: canada
Posts: 748
Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement. I have a sponsor and am reading through the Big Book and a book about the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. I'm just focusing on Step 1 right now. The noon meeting I attended won't work very well in the long-term because I only have a 30 minute lunch break. There are quite a few evening and weekend meeting options in my neighbourhood, so I will be trying different meetings.
Trudgin
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,348
Good for you, welcome brother....
The 12x12 is a terrific resource. Glad you discovered it early - great companion to the Big Book.
Between SR and AA I have found an extremely terrific one - two punch. I call it the combo package - so grateful for both.
Kind Regards,
FlyN
The 12x12 is a terrific resource. Glad you discovered it early - great companion to the Big Book.
Between SR and AA I have found an extremely terrific one - two punch. I call it the combo package - so grateful for both.
Kind Regards,
FlyN
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,552
This is so good! That is how my first meeting went. And that group is now my home group. I have been to a few AA meetings in the past and no one spoke directly to me as a newcomer. I personally believe that makes a huge difference. Don't worry about talking for a while. I'm 50 something days in and I finally shared yesterday. Just listen and don't drink. The stuff you don't understand today, is going to hit home down the road. I bring a notebook and try to jot down at least one thing a day that someone says that means something to me. When I have one of those dark moments I can read my journal and it all goes away.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Life is an unlikely miracle.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: England
Posts: 1,859
Hi Lance, I'm glad you had a good experience. My first meeting was very similar to that, and everyone there related stories which I'm sure were aimed at me being the newcomer. It gave me a lot to think about and process too.
I've only spoken to say thank you to everyone so far, not shared anything yet, but then I've only been to three meetings.
Good on you.
I've only spoken to say thank you to everyone so far, not shared anything yet, but then I've only been to three meetings.
Good on you.
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