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How soon should I get a sponsor?
(Preview)
Hello!! As of tomorrow , I am one week sober. I am also attending an out-patient treatment program (I previously attended AA and got my 1 month chip, but never worked the program, and so I drank again). I want to work the program and take a full-on approach to my recovery. How soon should I get a sponsor and...
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Kimmer
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13
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2261
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Cool experiences this Thanksgiving
(Preview)
I traveled home to the DC metro area for the holiday. We spent Thanksgiving on the eastern shore which is about a 2 hour drive from my parents' home in Annapolis. Anyhow, I was feeling kinda squirrely (not like I was going to drink at all, but just sort of all weird and up in my head)...so I got online and w...
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pinkchip
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6
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872
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Don't Know What To Do
(Preview)
Hi I am an alcoholic, and so is my husband. I live in a small town, and do not want to go to a meeting there, because i don't feel that it would be anonamous. Does anyone have any suggestions. I do not trust myself, and am afraid i will never quit drinking.
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countrygirl
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10
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928
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Seek, and....
(Preview)
November 29 We find in life exactly what we are looking for. In your drinking days, you courted trouble constantly and you probably found more than your share of it. Today we are looking for a better way of life and this, too, we find at every turn. We get what we want if we put forth sufficient effort to loo...
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Rainspa
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0
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4222
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Realization?
(Preview)
Hello All, I am in a battle with my mind. I have a very close friend that told me I have a serious drinking problem and I need help. I trust and believe in him as we are very close friends seriously like brother and sister. My problem with his comment is, I am not in total agreeance. I drink on weekends and I do...
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peaches1
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11
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1066
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A wee little What it Was Like, etc.
(Preview)
What it Was Like... I got frustrated...drink-drank-drunk. I felt resentment...drink-drank-drunk. I felt exuberent...drink-drank-drunk. Any darn excuse at all...drink-drank-drunk. What Happened... Drunk as a lifestyle choice doesn't really work for me. Never has. Never will. (one dow...
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Aquaman
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3
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692
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Info Earned
(Preview)
November 28 Knowledge is of great value, and nothing of value is acquired without price. Wisdom is even more to be desired than knowledge, which can be but an accumulation of facts. Humility is greater than wisdom for there is no real wisdom without humility. The wise are humbled by the knowledge of t...
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Rainspa
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0
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3399
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Friends
(Preview)
November 23 Isn't is strange to note the absence of a lot of old pre-AA friends over the week-end? We have not offended them, surely, and we are just as good friends as we used to be, but somehow they don't call on us with the same regularity. The answer is simple--the bar is closed. Now home is w...
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Rainspa
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4
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1988
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Fear to Surrender to Hope
(Preview)
November 26 In our drinking days, fear of everything and everybody was our constant companion. These fears continued until we finally, in desperate necessity, found the courage to surrender - to quit unconditionally. Then we found AA and a ray of Hope. Hope became desire, desire became determinat...
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Rainspa
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6
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3734
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There is a Solution
(Preview)
Big Book Study Meetings are a vital part of AA as a whole. Seriously looking into the dropout rate of AA members, its easy to see that most new AA members are either a) not getting what they need ( solution to their problem) in contemporary middle of the road AA Meetings, or b) are not Real Alcoholics and ju...
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LinBaba
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6
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1796
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Daily Reflections ~ Attraction, Not Promotion & 24hrs a Day
(Preview)
Through many painful experiences, we think we have arrived at what that policy ought to be. It is the opposite in many ways of usual promotional practice. We found that we had to rely upon the principle of attraction rather than promotion. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 180-81 While I was dri...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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856
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Ultimately it was my choice.
(Preview)
Every new day that I get up my one wish is that I never get too big that I cannot pray and ask God for His will. Just like physical exercise for me is vital for my body, spiritual exercise through prayer and meditation is vital for my spiritual condition. My most neglected condition used to be my spiritual c...
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gonee
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2
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577
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My vision is getting
(Preview)
Reply Quote More Edit PostDelete Post so much more clearer and I'm not talking about my eyesight alone. The surgery worked, is doing what I was told it would do and I had no idea that my spiritual vision had gotten so cloudy also. I am grateful that my eyesight was repairable and that in short weeks...
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Jerry F
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5
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930
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Visit to my old AA group.
(Preview)
I went to one of my sponsor's 23 year thanksgiving at my old AA group. It brought back so many memories of my early recovery and the struggles I experienced. We spoke about our meeting after the meeting which sometimes went on for hours. I needed this extended time with someone who understood my alcohol...
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gonee
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1
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583
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come on, get happy
(Preview)
Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010 Sorrow and happiness are mental states, but the effect they have upon our nervous system and our blood pressure is a recognized fact. The "Atmosphere" of a hospital and its staff can lengthen or shorten the duration of an illness. We alcoholics spent years driving...
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Rainspa
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0
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3779
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Went to my sponsor's 30th Bday today...
(Preview)
...and some other guys' 10th. Over 30 people there at the restaurant, great fellowship. I knew them all, brought my family along. Just goes to show, this program works if we work it. Very grateful for AA. Good sober day to all. Steve
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SteveP
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4
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724
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I am Thankful for...
(Preview)
A.A. Each and every one of Us. The program. Bill & Bob. Lois. John, Dean & MIP. If you are reading this...you are a blessing in my life and I am grateful for you. Peace & Love, Rob
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Aquaman
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7
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827
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A funny thing happened on the way to..........
(Preview)
God! How long since I've been here? Too long for sure. Where to begin....1st of all, I'm still sober and owe some of that to you folks here...truth! I guess the last time I was here was when I was unemployed, trying to heal and waiting to go back to work. I think I was trying to get a job with the RCMP (canadian...
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eastcoastscott
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3
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645
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Obsessive Thoughts
(Preview)
I have been sober for only a short time. 75 days to be exact. Prior to stop drinking I was also on medication to slow down my thoughts. When I quit drinking I quit the meds. I was darn near crazy for the first 60 days as my mind raced. When I hit the 60 day mark suddenly my mind slowed. It was the most peac...
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Aliciababy
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13
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3329
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Happy Thanksgiving
(Preview)
To you all...and thanks for the responses to the Spiritual Transference post a few days back. With your feedback and support from my local group I am now back in balance and remembering what it was like in the past when I let go of the process and the outcome and walk to the solutions attended by my Higher...
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Jerry F
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6
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581
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Submission.
(Preview)
I found that it was not knowledge that kept me sober. It was submission. Submitting to the fact that I was suffering from an incurable disease of alcoholism. Submitting to the fact that no human power could heal me, however august they may be. Submitting to the fact God could heal me if I seek Him. When I g...
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gonee
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1
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731
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It just doesn't Work
(Preview)
Reading this made me think of some meetings I have attended over the years, one in particular where "The Topic" was people "sharing" about how useless it was to work with alcoholics that were still drinking!!!! Made me wonder if they actually even ever read the Big Book, Bill wa...
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LinBaba
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29
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1290
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Thanksgiving Time
(Preview)
Hi To All And a Very Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone whereever you have it. Now for some you may want to check your local groups/clubhouses; many hold all day Alkathons with Food and Followship--and usually have meetings going on hourly. You do not have to spend the whole day unless you want to, some peo...
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kld47
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0
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545
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Daily Reflections ~ A Universal Search & 24hrs a Day
(Preview)
Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87 I do not claim to have all the answers in spiritual matters, any more than I claim to have all the answers about alcoholism. There are others who are also engaged in a spiritual search. If I keep an op...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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499
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Fear Is Not My Motivation
(Preview)
I was not scared sober. If the knowledge of the alcoholic death that awaited me was sufficient to keep me sober, I would have never even taken my first drink. I watched my father die an alcoholic death when I was 15... cirrhosis, the busted esophagus... I knew my chances. Hangovers were not enough to...
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barisax
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4
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1480
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BEEN A WHILE
(Preview)
HI Just thought I'd drop in, its been a while..... Things are going ok for today, my son's still got no motivation. My daughter went to check one of the College Campus's out last weekend. Had my Physical the other week, the only thing that is a problem is my colesteral a little high. Can work on that, was...
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Tina
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3
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563
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Meet Anne E. Donia...
(Preview)
Anhedonia: Loss of pleasure. The counselors said this would happen in this, Early Recovery, but I hoped it wouldn't be a noticeable deal. Wrong. It's been 5 months since my last (1) day relapse, 7 months since I quit smoking and about oh...4 months since ripping myself free of xanax. How long, withou...
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Aquaman
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11
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939
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We're not here to lose our sense of humor
(Preview)
Today's thought from Hazelden is: We're not here to lose our sense of humor. --Richie Berlin Being too serious is habit forming. However, many aspects of our lives are serious and need to be addressed. Our disease, for one, is very serious. Working the Twelve Step program to the best of our ability is s...
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Larry_H
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4
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983
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Secret.....
(Preview)
Does anyone else ever feel like they have a little secret to happiness?? Since being in the program for about 3 years now, I feel happy like a child. Corney I know but to be able to feel anything was a step up. I can sit on the couch with my dog and watch tv and a surge will come over me. Contentment. Alot t...
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SUSIE
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1
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605
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What is Gods Plan for you?
(Preview)
I just got back from church, and what a wonderful experience. I was never the type to go to church in the past, and in fact I hated church. I hated how happy all these people were, and thought of them as fake. Now I realize that these people are all like me, and are just finding a way to live their life with mean...
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alexsun
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10
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1451
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Something that you can't do while drinking
(Preview)
I just got back from my vacation in Key Largo. Had a great time scuba diving with my wife. It was awesome going back there after 15 years. We made several trips there in the early 90's with our other boat. I got to do a another solo dive on a great ship wreck. A 327' Coast Guard cutter USCG Duane and t...
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StPeteDean
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8
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2984
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Spiritual transference...
(Preview)
Aloha All...just got back from my morning home meeting and before I got out and do some business in what is a very beautiful day here I wanted to check in and read...respond if I felt supportive. My eye surgery is coming up in 3 days and I've been having difficulties with letting go of control of the outco...
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Jerry F
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7
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1120
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In The Blood
(Preview)
So last night, I'm on the way back from my home group, and taking DramaGoddess back home to the opposite side of town first... yes, she's one of us and she goes to my meeting with me sometimes now. And I'm talking to her about stuff... like how we feel emotions, and how we think, and how we react, and how we...
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barisax
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3
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693
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"Resentment is the "number one" offender. BB pg 64.
(Preview)
"It destroys more alcoholics than anything else." Alcohol had destroyed me physically and mentally. With careful medical care and good nutrition and exercise, I quickly recovered. Resentment on the other hand was a terrible spiritual disease that was eating me up. I thank God and AA fo...
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gonee
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4
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2473
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Amends...
(Preview)
I recently made an amends to someone I thought I never would. An ex best friend who was screwing my husband. (sorry about being so blunt) This is a person I shared everything with. When I was having marital problems I would vent to her. So boy did she have it all in a nut shell. My part was I should neve...
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SUSIE
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14
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927
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Daily Reflections ~ A Classic Prayer & 24hrs a Day
(Preview)
Lord, make me a channel for thy peace - that where there is hatred, I may bring love - that where there is wrong. I may bring the spirit of forgiveness - that where there is discord, I may bring harmony - that where there is error, I may bring truth - that where there is doubt, I may bring faith - that where ther...
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Sobrietyspell
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0
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3505
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My emotions run deeper than others.
(Preview)
My wife asked me a question at the dinner table tonight. In fact it was more like a statement. She said how come we both read the same article in the newspaper, but you get all worked up and I remain unmoved. I told her that's because I am an alcoholic. My emotions are always extreme. Alcoholism had changed...
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gonee
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2
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785
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Newcomer
(Preview)
Hi, Im Alex and im an alcoholic. I call myself alcoholic, but it took me a while to actually state that. At first I like to say alcoholic addict bum loser etc, but now I'm just an alcoholic. For the longest time I didn't know if I was dead or alive. I wasn't quite dead because I was walking around, talking and...
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alexsun
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10
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1237
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Cost and Price
(Preview)
November 21 If a reasonable estimate could be made of the fatalities resulting from excessive drinking, the figures would be appalling. This loss, however, is only a small part of the price that Bacchus extracts. The wasted man-hours of work, the homes broken up, the wealth of talent tha...
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Rainspa
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1
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3456
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I don't understand
(Preview)
AquaWife finally expressed jealousy regarding time put into AA & other recovery-related activities. Umm. Why? BEFORE: 30-60 minutes a night in the shed gettin' tore-up, Saturday & Sunday were drunken blurs and the household hemmorraged cash to feed my habits. Angry rants and acting...
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Aquaman
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16
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2230
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There are those who do not recover BB pg 59.
(Preview)
When I came into AA some 22 years ago, many people at scoffed at the program. I used to get very discouraged, but my AA friends always asked me to stick around long enough for me to understand the AA 12 steps. I trudged along and ignored the ignorant people on the outside. Many wanted and needed what I had re...
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gonee
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5
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837
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Should have got the red one.
(Preview)
"We do not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it." This is such a wonderful promise in the BB. In the beginning I always used to think I should have. That was still self will running riot. As I started to work the steps, I had begun to realise the wonderful gifts that God had yet to give me....
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gonee
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2
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674
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Quick update, more to follow soon
(Preview)
For those that care, I am still alive ;) I fell off again, I have 15 days today, some legal issue, (misdeamenor) (harrasment with alcohol involved) and still have my job and just got a car but it got in a rearender (car hit my gf) (no alcohol involved) anyways thats a quick recap living back at my folks for...
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SoberSteve
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14
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862
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Going Easy
(Preview)
Today's thought from Hazelden is: Going Easy Go easy. You may have to push forward, but you don't have to push so hard. Go in gentleness, go in peace. Do not be in so much of a hurry. At no day, no hour, no time are you required to do more than you can do in peace. Frantic behaviors and urgency are not the founda...
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Larry_H
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0
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328
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Not really 12th step
(Preview)
We have a local women's only treatment center / home that has been coming to my home group. They needed to call someone in the program, so they called me. I'd get a call with someone saying "I just need to check in with a member of AA. Thanks, bye". Ohhkkkayy. Then I was asked to drive some of the...
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Rainspa
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4
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691
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Illumination
(Preview)
November 19 A large segment of humanity, stumbling in alcoholic darkness, resigned to a belief that nothing can possibly be done about the situation, has at long last caught a gleam of light and presses on to that beacon of Hope. Alcoholics Anonymous is that light shining forth in the night of...
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Rainspa
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0
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1525
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Not everything is a case of being a bit "off-program"
(Preview)
Hello all ! It's Louisa - real name Karen actually (Louisa is my cat) I have come back as Northern Lights (aren't they beautiful?) and wish to use my real name. I guess this post is intended to hopefully warn against the dangers of putting everything down to the program. Within the space of 10 days I wen...
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northern lights
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16
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1068
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A New Pair of Glasses
(Preview)
"A New Pair of Glasses" was a term initially coined by a guy (Dr Paul) in his story "Doctor, Addict, Alcoholic" or I think it's called "Acceptance is The Answer" in the fourth edition (I still have 4 copies of the third edtion, so I don't know) and in it he describes the c...
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LinBaba
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0
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4681
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Other People's Views
(Preview)
I see another topic about this but didn't want to hijack that thread. I'm dealing with this in all of my life right now. I'm feeling like everyone thinks I'm a couple zanaks away from schizophrenia to be honest. Everything I say I'm met with how it's all my fault and I need to focus on myself and my disea...
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typ0
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18
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662
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30 Days Today
(Preview)
So far, so good. I found a great sponsor right away (she actually offered to sponsor me at my 1st meeting) and have been to meetings every day. I'm a re-retread but it seems my resistance has left the building (thank God). Grateful not only for AA but for this board---haven't written much but I have bee...
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Posey
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11
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854
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