Last night I went to a meeting I usually go to, it was an beginners meeting. The speaker shared a long war story, then open it up for discussion , people shared about drinking. This one old timer shared about someone he saw drinking and dying. Then a lady shared about nonsense not even related to alcoholism. One guy shared about his cell phone doesnt work.
is it ME? Am I the problem? Or are just meeetings just terrible. No one mentioned the 12 steps and God. How do you deal with terrible meetings?
-- Edited by Biddy909 on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 12:30:30 PM
Welcome Biddy, ... LOL, ... When I was new to AA, I had the very same reaction ... I brought it up with my sponsor and he told me to listen and look for what I could learn and be inspired by and to 'leave the rest behind' ... ... ... Not all meetings give us what we're look'n for ... and as long as we're spending an hour at the meet'n, we're not drink'n ... and sometimes people will wander off to 'triggers' that make them want to drink, as your guy with the cell phone problem may have done ...
Just try to be patient and soak up as much as you can without wishing things to be more of what you wanted to hear ... in time, with enough meet'ns, you'll learn all you need to know ...
Love ya and God Bless, Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thanks for your kind advice. Its like a catch 22. The meeting is filled with people that care for me and its close to my house. But most times its good. But sometimes it could be very wacky lol. But Im trying not to be the actor trying to run the show, and I ask god to direct me and remove my selfishness.
i was going to find a new group but that would only be me running away from the problem. Plus I have a commitment
-- Edited by Biddy909 on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 01:45:12 PM
Last night I went to a meeting I usually go to, it was an beginners meeting. The speaker shared a long war story, then open it up for discussion , people shared about drinking. This one old timer shared about someone he saw drinking and dying. Then a lady shared about nonsense not even related to alcoholism. One guy shared about his cell phone doesnt work.
Welcome to the forum B909. Good to have another AA join us for discussion and recovery.
I shared that I was struggling with my emotions, and that since I did a fourth and fifth step the obsession to drink left me. I get annoyed because there was a newcomer in the room and people share stupid stuff. But I have to learn to be less self centered and trust god and ask him for patience, kindliness, and self pity.
-- Edited by Biddy909 on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 06:41:30 PM
THAT, my dear Biddy, is a sign of progress ... ... ... we have to learn a new way of thinking ... which is exactly what you've expressed here ... good job ...
Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thanks for your help, lol. Sometimes I wish this one lady should not share. She is very irritating. But perhaps she arouses something in me that is irritating and I she is a teacher
-- Edited by Biddy909 on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 10:58:51 PM
Biddy, there are low quality meetings, make no mistake. But maybe they are more suited for people that are on different parts of the path. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Find a new location and don't stay miserable is my opinion.
I posted this on 'Today's Gift' ... immediately thought of you ...
A.A. Thought for the Day
Do we have any hard feelings about other group members or for any other AA group? Are we critical of the way a group member thinks or acts? Do we feel that another group is operating in the wrong way and do we broadcast it? Or do we realize that all AA members, no matter what their limitations, have something to offer and some good, however little, that they can do for AA? Am I tolerant of people and groups?
Meditation for the Day
All my movements, my goings and comings can be guided by the unseen Spirit. Every visit to help another, every unselfish effort to assist, can be blessed by that unseen Spirit. Every meeting of a need may not be a chance meeting but may have been planned by the unseen Spirit.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be led by the spirit of God.
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Do we have any hard feelings about other group members or for any other AA group? Are we critical of the way a group member thinks or acts? Do we feel that another group is operating in the wrong way and do we broadcast it? Or do we realize that all AA members, no matter what their limitations, have something to offer and some good, however little, that they can do for AA? Am I tolerant of people and groups?
Wow. That is so relevant to this thread. Pappy. Thanks for posting it.
My former sponsor used to say "Don't look down on that alcoholic laying drunk in the gutter. He might save your life someday."
The idea is that you can someday be greatly helped by an AA you intensely dislike.
Like many others, just because I "Feel" like its terrible meeting, doesn't mean it is. It's not about me, it's about us. I never know though who and to whom someone's Higher Power chooses to speak through. I remember now time as I was leaving a meeting, I swore I'd never go back after thinking how crappy it was, overhearing a newcomer exclaim how great it was. That shut down my opinion on the spot.
