Just got home from my very first AA meeting. I feel a bit overwhelmed but not in a negetive way. It was hard to get to this point for me as I never thought i had a problem because I am a binge drinker and not an everyday drinker. I go to this location a very rundown house in a very bad part of town, I walk in very nervous and unsure. As people start to filter in, i sit back just observing, when a lady hands me a book and asks me to begin the meeting....WHAT!!?? Oh great, i'm already nervous but here it goes.....as i read I don't know if i'm reading too fast or too slow and then the serenity prayer...finally done and i turn it back to her. As some people start to talk and share stories I look around the room and see how poor some of these individuals are and listen to some of their horrible stories and they all amaze me. I sit and listen and as they share and reflect I notice that these people are full of hope and something so positive. They are true beings that have had hard times and would be there to help you in any way they could. They belive in the power of AA and in the power of eachother. I listen to one guy read out of the big book and it really took a hold of me and hit somewhere very deep. So i finally share a little bit of my story and at the end i got very emotional and chocked up. I realize what i need in my life and what i have been lacking and that is..Faith, Belief and Joy! Well I think I may go to another this evening we shall see, with work and a 4yr old it's going to be impossible to go everyday but I will try to go to as many as i can. Thanks for listening- Angela
I am so glad you made it through your first meeting, Angela, and wow!!! They sure did get you active quickly, at least with the readings!! That is just great!!
As you go to more and check out different meetings, you will find all sorts of people. I go to one meeting where there are a number of disadvantaged folks who are wonderfully happy in sobriety, and then another I go to is a mixed bag of suburban professionals and artists. The beautiful thing that I have found is that in AA, we are all special and important, no matter how much money we make or where we live. It is too bad our society doesn't follow suit sometimes.
Anyway, I was really excited when I saw your post title. Please keep us up to date!!!!
((((hugs)))) Joni
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~~"It's hard to be hateful when you're grateful."~~
Good job Angela: See, it wasnt as bad as you thought huh? After you go to a few meetings and get to know people , you will actually look forward to going to meetings. Ive met alot of great people , who I consider real friends, and its so great to be myself, share my stuff and be totally accepted. So keep it up. It does get easier! Lani
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
I'm really pleased that you made it to your first meeting. As you get to know more people the meetings will get better for you. I love my meetings now and I have made some true friends.
I remember my first AA meeting so well. I knew that I was in the right place and really belonged there. I looked around the room and saw lots of happy and fulfilled people and I wanted a little bit of what they had.
Well done on sharing at your first meeting. That is terrific. It took me a while to feel that I could open up, but I know that I'm with good people and friends and I can be myself in a meeting.
Try going to a few different meetings as they are all different.
Please keep us updated on how things are going for you, won't you?
Take care,
Carol
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
Great news! try and go to as many different meetings as possible, till you find that really cozy one and make it your home group. The meetings in churches (not affiated with the church they just rent space there) are the older more established meetings, and will have generally have members with longer sobriety. Also seek out beginers meetings and speakers meetings. The later are generally more social and held on weekend eves.
I went to an AA "club" when I first got sober. Those will have 5 or 10 meetings a day, everyday. It was good for me because I wasn't good about remembering meetings schedules and could just drive to the club where I knew there was a meeting. I made a lot of friends there as well. Have fun with it.
Congratulations on taking the first step to change. WOW!
I sort of remember my first meeting and the fear and anxiety that I felt. As they were looking around the room to ask people to read, the person beside me said that they just needed to listen today. You have no idea what a relief it was to plagiarize that guy and say the exact same thing - except when I said it I'm not sure if it was in English or in any language known to man
But you know what it was okay. Someone once shared with me that as they go forward every day so does their ability.
