Fellowship is extremely important to me. I can be having a crappy day, walk into a meeting, and feel the weight lift immediately.

A bunch of folks from my Saturday a.m. meeting go to lunch afterwards. Always nice when someone new comes. Never know how many will show. It's really the highlight of my week!

~Chris

I too enjoy the fellowship to stave off loneliness...which I suffer from for variety of reasons...the friends I have in AA sometimes eat together and I enjoy those when I can afford to. Now that I am starting new job I will be able to afford more dinners out with the groups that do those things.

In beginning it was hugely important portion of one's program to get with others who will listen to the odd thinking and correct it for me.

Fellowship has been vital to my recovery. There is a strength and hope I get from meetings that I don't find anywhere else. And when I'm struggling, my sponsor takes me out for coffee afterwards and talks with me as long it takes to give me encouragement and get me thinking straight. I couldn't have stayed clean and sober this long without fellowship, and I need it to stay clean and sober in the future.

I think for those who need it, fellowship is great, in sobriety, spirituality, etc. I have always been a loner of sorts and not a real social person anyway - i can, but it's just not my thing, but I have seen many who need it and it does them good -

I wouldn't be sober without fellowship. I walk into a 'home' meeting and instantly feel safe and among friends, whether I personally know all the others present, or not. Much of the time outside of meetings I feel isolated and lonely, even if I am with other people. The Fellowship is a constant source of strength and safety.

I don't need the Fellowship. As a human being, I'm not meant to walk alone in this life. The people in the fellowship are the most loving, honest, decent people I've ever known. They are the people I want to be around. Who wouldn't want people like this in their life?

It's definitely the bright spot of my day when I walk through the doors and see my friends. Most are closer than family to me. Our kids have grown up together. Many family BBQ's, holiday eatin' meetings, etc. Good topic DT, Thanks.

Before I relocated to another state, fellowship wasvery important to me when my scial anxiety disorder wasnt kicking in. I averaged 10 meetings a week the first 5 years and coffee after the meeting til all hours every night. It was vital for someone as sick as I was.
I maintained fellowship the next 22 years til moving to FL and i have to say JUST MY OPINION the town i live in the AA is very different- putting it nicely. I have tried to reach out with not much success. Plus its a city with ALOT of retired people (arent they all in fL lol) so its hard to find people my age. I moved here to treat my seasoal affective disorder (it worked!!!)
Am i making excuses for my lack of fellowship? think what you want; my needs are just not the same and neither are the meetings here.
So i came here to DS looking for fellowship online. I have social anxiety so its a perfect situation. i have grown to be a loner and its cool with me.
Coinidently (?) my AA sponsor moved to FL 5 yrs before me and lives an hour away. my bro is 9 years sober and I love visiting him in NYC and going to meetings there. People are warm, friendly and act like they give a crap.
Sorry I rambled; i dint realize i have so much to say on the topic tho i have been aware of the issue. : ) I welcome anyone who wants to friend me. maureen

Good topic DT
Fellowship has helped me immensely in recovery from the start when i felt alone i soon realized i would never be walking this path alone& like others ive enjoyed meals out coffee dates even holidays
Its one of the first things i try to get over to prospective newcomer's when on phone duty "your not alone" that's what i want to convince them

Thanks donttred for the topic. At first I didn't really feel the need for fellowship with other recovering alcoholics. I had my friends and family and none are alcoholic (at least my friends...family you can't do much about). It also takes me a long time to trust anyone. This past year and a half though I have begin to develope friendships and joined in activities with my sober sisters and have found those relationships and friendships very special.

I have to say in this group of DS friends I have found some simply wonderful people I would love have as true friends (real .....not virtual).

carebear, fellowship comes in many forms and you are part of this on line fellowship, like it or not. LOL We have folks that never do more than show up a little early and chat. Fellowship also comes in masny degrees

Fellowship is a group of people working together, sharing and staying connected and that's something I'd long forgotten how to do. Those before and after chitty chats at AA meetings were uncomfortable to start with, but ended up being a good training ground back into the fellowship of life. Can now enjoy face to face fellowship in other areas of the community now and that's a real treat :}

Great Topic..... I had 5 yrs sobriety and I chose to drink, heck I planned it....got my 5yr chip and went to the liquor store.

About 6yrs later....I ran back to AA. As I sat and looked around this new place 4 states away from where I first had gotten sober. I didn't know anyone but yet felt I belonged. I looked at the 15+ people, I was very mindful and wondered if I would know these people in a year....this was my NEW family.

Having only 2kids and 4 Gkids I have no other relatives. No family..but the Gods gave me AA. It is so amazing to know I never have to be alone on holidays.

Thx

hey guys PAT ALERT PAY CLOSE ATTENATION...Pat isclaiming AA again!!!! LOL

No offense pat...I am kidding...

hugs bill

ROFL-

Your great Bill!

My first 2 sponsors had only me in town. I memorized the BB because they really didn't know what to do with me.
Now...if it is a group of AAers that I like and think they walk the walk...this girl is straight AA.....Big Book Nazi comes to mind

As I have aged, I now am on a spiritual path, my Sensai is NA.....
you caught me LOL


I also in general claim AA if it helps a fresh person I encourage AA because it worked so well for me.

Pat

The Bar used to join AA is pretty darn low :P