When I was in treatment, we held meetings right in our unit. A woman who was attending from 'outside' introduced herself to me. My husband had broadcast to the neighborhood what I was doing; she was the aunt of the woman across the street from me. She was pleasant and outgoing, and I felt better for meeting her, even though I was distressed that my husband was 'telling everyone".
We kept seeing each other at meetings after treatment; she didn't drive and so I sort of took on the pleasant chore of driving her to meetings. I didn't like everybody at the meeting; I was not like every one at the meetings, and I certainly had my struggles with cravings, not wanting to use the program, etc. But she had 5 more years than me, and lived with a brother who had more years than that, and so I thought I'd keep up taking her to meetings at the very least to help her out even if it wasn't doing me any good.
After a year, I'd met many folks I liked, and she and I relaxed into a friendship situation. My mother had died a few years before, and her daughter was estranged, so we sort of filled a need for each other as well as offering Program support. At that point, I called her my "sponsor de facto".
19 wonderful years of friendship and sponsorship and hundreds of meetings later, she died at the ripe, sober age of 86. Always gracious and a wonderful example of how the program can truly work, she remains my one and only sponsor. (Now I sponsor others.....never as graciously as she, though...)

Thanks Bambu. Yeah, I went through the "I am nothing like these people" phase. Fact is there is no One Kind of Alcoholic. We are all from diverse backgrounds, education, and financial levels.
Although, you may not find someone Just like you....you will find a common thread. A desire to stay sober. Great Story....thanks.

In far too many ways for me to articulate. But first and foremost I'm sober. I don't drive the car with three little children in it, after having had a drink or three. I can be present for those same little children I love so much. I can feel that love without feeling like my skin is going to melt off and my hearts broken in 10k places.
In short, its given me access to a higher power who I didnt know I needed and now don't want to ever live without......

A.A. was the answer to my family's prayers - we got our father back! He made friends through the program and became sober for 23 years until he died. My dad could fix anything - he loved to help people in the neighborhood - but his biggest triumph to me were his years of sobriety.

A.A. saved my sister's life. She has been clean and sober for 14 years, and still attends weekly meetings. I think A.A. does help a lot of people.

i learned drunks and drug addicts r some of the nicest people u will ever meet. if they r sober.... at a speaker meeting a guy talked about the "attitude of graditude". i learned to thank my higher power everyday and b happy for what He had given me. sitting around the tables as people told their stories i learned to see peoples inner beauty. i learned how to b happy in my own skin. if i wanted it bad enough. i knew how how to live and b miserable. i needed to learn how to b happy the way i was meant to b. the way HE intended. i was 50yrs when i started meetings and it taught me HOW to live and much more

I am so glad to see some positive stories of A.A. Too many folks try it and say it doesn't work.
What do you tell someone who says "A.A. won't work for me because I don't believe in God"?
To me God is a concept. God can be Karma or whatever you decide it is but you have to accept the fact that we/alcoholics do not have control. In order to be happy, you have to accept life on life's terms. That my friend is a battle in itself.
Any suggestions on how to talk to people who don't believe in God?

The trouble is, the word 'god' has negative connotations for some, including me. I prefer to think of 'greater than self' which is a big unknown. That is, I am not the alpha and omega of the universe, there's an 'out there' that is greater than me. When I practice handing over and surrendering to 'out there', I feel a calm.

Even though AA is not for me it did keep me sober long enough to find a way that suits me so much better so I'm greatful for that.

Even though AA is not for me it did keep me sober long enough to find a way that suits me so much better so I'm greatful for that.

I went 10 years ago when I was not drinking and the thing I loved most was the easy phrases and things to remember in emergencies. I still use the one day at a time often. For a lot of things too, not just drinking. But with drinking it is really an amazing, yet so simple concept. To think of the rest of my freaking like without alcohol, my beloved glass of wine (I'm sorry, I am still fresh into this and still consider wine as I would a lover, I miss wine desperately) is so overwhelming, depressing and just plain sucky. But saying "I will not drink today" is manageable. Alright, it might be tough. Actually, right as I type this I'd love just a quick half glass of white.... But I can do it. It is 2:30 in the afternoon where I am, I only have about 8 or 9 hours until I go to bed. I can do it, I can make it. Yeah, for today I've got this.

And tomorrow, I'll wake up and use the same tactic to get me through tomorrow.

Helped me see that I need people in my life, and not reject them

Shown me that being open minded frees me from the shackles of prejudice and allows me learn every day

Demonstrated that with love and tolerance as my code, I come to the world and it's folks in love, rather than hate and distrust

Given me the courage to face life as a sober, contributing member of society, trying to give back more than taking

My higher power gave me the gift of sobriety. AA taught me how to accept that gift.

Peace of mind and the ability to live life on life's terms without alcohol.

There is not enough room for me to list all that AA's done for me.