Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
Lately, I have been tempted to pick up my toys and go home a couple of times, but what good would come from that, as there may be someone : :))) who feels more like I do, not exactly though because "you got your troubles and I got mine".
When it comes to alcohol I'm the same, after that "I Gotta be me." We all have our individual crosses to bear and paths to follow that make us unique. This is why I find AA a bit difficult at times because when I say things like: Yes, I am a garden variety drunk, but after that I am unique.
In my experience using the word unique in any context in the rooms is asking for a world of hurt...And my recovery has had very little to do with a spiritual experience as the result of these steps...I like AA because it's a great place to meet people with a common goal. I don't know if it's me being rigid, but there seems to be hardly any fish swimming in the same stream in AA. But please "Open up! Why won't you open up that door?" without making me feel like I a second class citizen, if the steps are incomprehensible to me. "I just can't help myself"...Because that's my experience, strength, and hope.
The debates "Here they come again." I hope not...
"Please don't let me be misunderstood"
When it comes to alcohol I'm the same, after that "I Gotta be me." We all have our individual crosses to bear and paths to follow that make us unique. This is why I find AA a bit difficult at times because when I say things like: Yes, I am a garden variety drunk, but after that I am unique.
In my experience using the word unique in any context in the rooms is asking for a world of hurt...And my recovery has had very little to do with a spiritual experience as the result of these steps...I like AA because it's a great place to meet people with a common goal. I don't know if it's me being rigid, but there seems to be hardly any fish swimming in the same stream in AA. But please "Open up! Why won't you open up that door?" without making me feel like I a second class citizen, if the steps are incomprehensible to me. "I just can't help myself"...Because that's my experience, strength, and hope.
The debates "Here they come again." I hope not...
"Please don't let me be misunderstood"
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
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I was recently separated from my wife of 33 years and it's complicated. Anyway I rented a room about 15 minutes away and I see my kids about once a week. I see the people who own the house I live in once in a while but other than that I stay in my room where I do my cooking, wash dishes in the shower, read, color, and sleep. I get out at least once a day. I grocery shop and I attend 2 meetings...
I'll just say that I love how incredibly un-unique most alcoholics are in our alcoholism. We are each a different combination of nature/ nuture..... DNA, experiences, socio economic conditions, religions, genders, races etc.
I personally have never felt pressured to be anything in AA other than willing to listen. Sometimes its hard to sit through a meeting and listen to all the humaness of it. I've never approached AA as a social club, or somewhere to meet people to hang with outside the rooms. But that's slowly but surely happening despite my initial intentions.
Anyway, glad you are here and sober. Glad I am too.
You're just a soul whose intentions are good.
(Sorry couldn't help myself, hope that makes you smile...)
I realized in my recovery that I had to ultimately do it on my own. Maybe that is the uniqueness you are speaking of.
For now I'm in a place where I've realized that this successful sober life we're living got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys. Perhaps, it's just we're just trying to appeal to different audiences. Sometimes that comes across as a pissing contest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMzilyGZrHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ylhySDIH_A
ExJG reminded me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfwN0X8YnWo
then Zach comes back with:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfg8_B6OzqE
Must be a musical Sunday.
I damn near died from terminal uniqueness.
Today when it comes the common cause we have (getting and staying sober) I give my ES&H without proselytizing. Someone wants to find out about AA, anyone in the fellowship on the board can give them info and links without setting off a poopstorm alarm. Have a grand rest of the day...
Hugs,
Dennis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQMOpw9_Bis
I felt special, I felt blessed, I felt like this is what AA is all about....people helping people.
After that meeting, this guy came up to me and introduced himself to me. He became my first sponser. My life began to change for
the better from that moment on. I had this book to help me with the steps called "The 12 steps for everyone who really wants them" .
I have an extra copy if anyone wants one. I stole my first copy from the hospital detox because when I first picked it up and browsed through it, I couldn't put it down. I have since given away many copies!
One of the mistakes I made in the beginning was focusing on the people and their faults and not on the 12 steps and the process of the therapy going on in front of me. That of identifying with others who had been in my shoes and vise versa.
That was 6 years ago. I am content in knowing I have my AA friebds and my Higher Power to help me through life's many problems.
God Bless!
the early eighties were^^^^^^^ the latter part really rocked...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu3VTngm1F0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDl3iUo__dY
You are what the Buddha calls an upstream swimmer, going against the flow. That is good.