A gym membership.

A gym membership or a bicycle.

Cycling is a good lo-impact workout for the knees, plus physical activity increases endorphins.

My worries and problems get left in the dust when I cycle and put miles between them and me.

There are two parts to AA. The first is the fellowship or the members who support us. The second part is the 12 steps. Many people go to meetings for the fellowship and never do the steps and many end up relapsing in a few years.

Of the ones who go to the meetings, get a sponsor and do the steps, these are the ones who have the 12 Promises come true for them.

You might want to revisit the steps because it will help you with your depression because it did me.. I was one of the ones who just went to meetings and never did the steps until I relapsed after a few years of attending meetings alone... Here is a video that will give you more info on it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoO3h_HYcDw

God Bless

Thanks Bob. I've done the steps before some of today's member's were born but I have not lived them in a long time.

As for the exercise ideas, thanks. Physical activity was an important part of my life and my recovery. But i have knees withe the only option being total knee. I garden, shovel, do what I can but I miss the dopamiine!

I have been able to defer TKR for about 4 years now by strengthening my knee muscles and the resulting better support of the surrounding soft tissue, ligaments, etc, by cycling...

Give it a try.

I find doing things for others gets me out of myself. Find a pet shelter and scoop poop. Find a charity and sweep. Aa is still there, I don’t like social settings... why drinking was so effective, but by simply just going I have a connection and feel ok without booze.

Somehow by doing what I don’t want to do I overcome myself.

Don’t isolate, that’s the wrong road

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Go back to AA and dive back into the program.

Work it the way it is meant to be work. Not to satisfy anyone else but yourself.

If you can, get to meetings. I go to AA four mornings a week, which is a benefit of retirement. Go early to help set up and be with AA's. Eventually, and it did take me a while, as I am painfully shy, some of the people there, one person at a time, became my friends. I personally do not have the ability to stay emotionally sane without hearing others in recovery share. I quit smoking pot in 1972, but my state has become a legal pot state. Pot is one more land mine for me, and I have seen it take out a few of our members.

When I said yesterday "gym membership" I was thinking of water exercises. Its the easiest on the body and it does create endorphins.

My suggestion is just to go and ask yourself what do you really have to lose? When I let my mind decide if I should go to a meeting or not, it's always trouble. I let my feet do my decision making in life now, and I do not complain when I have to go to something my mind is arguing is not necessary. If anything it will give good reason to experience how wrong our minds often are as ex-drinkers and people who need a spiritual solution to a chronic problem.

Thanks all. You are right about the meetings but life, travel and my job make great excuses. I might try a CF meeting but that's 60 miles away, so regular attendance would be a stretch. Anyway, I guess if it gets bad enough I'll make the time?
As for the knee I've been delaying for quite some time. My legs are still strong for a 60 year old but most of the time I walk without bending them. The Cortisone doesn't work like it used to and I fall several times each year.
I've all but given up hunting and hiking. I need to wrap my head around the surgery, but like a child "I don't wanna" LOL
So I guess I'm stuck wallowing for now. solutions are there , but they are hard and I am not ready. It was easier to be resilient when I was younger, when all that work to change paid maximum dividends.
Anyway thank you all.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned seeing a counselor. AA isn't counseling.

I would think a decrease in depression and improved mobility, energy and a return to favorite activities (hunting and hiking) would be considered "maximum dividends" to many...