Hi Rene, I sponsor women one to one away from the meetings and many of them do not share in the group because of many reasons. They just go and listen and that is okay. Sometimes people try to encourage them to share but they say "I'm just here to listen" or say "I'm glad to be here" or something like that. What I am saying is no-one has to feel obliged to share in a meeting and the 12 Step programme is a personal journey, that's why a lot of us choose to have a sponsor.

I did not share in meetings for about six months, I had nothing to contribute. I wanted just to be amongst other alcoholics and listen to how they got well.

As far as online sponsorship, some of my friends here do that. Message me any time if you think I can helpful to you.

Hiya Rene925 welcome. My experience with online sponsorship has been unsuccessful. I have tried to do it with maybe 6 women and it just wasn't the same as the face 2 face contact I have with my sponsees from my local meetings.

You don't have to share in the meetings in order to get a sponsor from meetings! Check out the guys who seem happy and content and who talk about the programme. Ask one if they can take you through the programme as it is in the Big Book.

Good luck

Lyn

I'd suggest a sponsor in real life. Its easy to share on these boards, yes, and I find them very helpful. I'm grateful to the people here who share. That said I don't think there is a substitute for in person sponsorship. Its not easy to ask, but its worth it. You don't have to share in a group to find a sponsor. Listen to the shares *in* the group. Find someone who you admire and who seems to have what you want. Ask her.

Hello rene925,

Like the others have suggested, there is no substitute for having a face-to-face sponsor. One of the best pieces of advice I got was not to look for a sponsor but to listen for one. Remember too that you will be helping your sponsor as much as he is helping you so you dont have to feel that you are under obligation to him.

I have never sponsored anyone online but I dont think that it would be successful if I did. However, like many people here I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Send me a private message any time.

For me being sponsored is not the important keystone to my recovery. My keystone is the work I need to do. For me a sponsor is but a guide, if I am not prepared to do the work then I can not recover.

As said to me many times nothing changes if nothing changes.

I believe if the person is prepared to do the work then they will achieve the results whether the sponsor is online, face to face or text messages.

So I ask what lengths are you willing to go to, to achieve your sobriety??

I have always had an adage is better to fail trying than to succeed at doing nothing.

G8

good luck with whatever it is you decide to do...seems all these people support in person sponsorship....I have never been a sponsor but always had inperson sponsorship until I entered a different 12 step program...there I had a sponsor in my town but I got fired and was involved with that program online as well so I asked a guy who I liked and felt was working a good Debtors anon program if he would sponsor me....he said yes and we talked on telephone bunch of times...still can call him any time but I no longer attend DA since I got bad taste in my mouth about some portions of the program and some of the people who I worked with in it....I did learn a lot and I do better financially now than I did before I attended in person meetings of DA...but I am not offering to sponsor you online because I too support in person sponsorship...best thing for me and perhaps you too