I'm just letting you all know I'm working the program and feel rather good even though I don't deserve it. I see now I was setting myself up to go back out by skipping meetings stopped doing service work,and I held back on my forth step. I thought if I got rid of most my dirt I could carry the rest,,boy was I ever wrong,,,it festered in me for a few years,,I'm hearing that now like I never have been to a meeting,,so much I tried to do my way,,,I know the steps are but just suggestions..so about time I listen,,take care brothers and sisters,,
I am new and am still scratching my head at this whole process - but each day brings more understanding.
Neat revelation yesterday. It was one of those white nuckle days - not enough hours in the day - more money out than in - too much responsibility - feeling like the martyr...give give give with nothing in return.
I went to my book study - How it Works was the nights reading. I just found a sponsor and really need to focus on step 1 right now - but what I got out of it - was the problem of focusing on "self". There was more I got from it, but that was the big one.
I was able to take a deep breath, loosen up, stop playing the matyr in my head, and got through the rest of my many tasks before bed with a much lighter heart.
So yes - I am starting to see the value of meetings. It is great to hear everyone here getting so much out of them too.
Congrats Buck!
tlc
__________________
__________________ "By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach." ~Winston Churchill
Congrats on the 14 meetings in 14 days! It is not a guarantee, but it is pretty good insurance against taking that first drink, especially early in your sobriety or in troublesome times.
For me, concept of the steps being "merely suggestions" is about the same as wearing a parachute to exit a burning plane is "merely a suggestion"! Fact of the matter is that I can go without either as it is a choice I have the option to make, but I'm betting the results of ignoring either "suggestion" would have pretty much the same results-- at least for me.
Congrats on the 14 meetings in 14 days! It is not a guarantee, but it is pretty good insurance against taking that first drink, especially early in your sobriety or in troublesome times.
For me, concept of the steps being "merely suggestions" is about the same as wearing a parachute to exit a burning plane is "merely a suggestion"! Fact of the matter is that I can go without either as it is a choice I have the option to make, but I'm betting the results of ignoring either "suggestion" would have pretty much the same results-- at least for me.
Quoted for truth ^^^^
careful Dr. Bob, like me, you'll get labeled a resident hard ass
Congrats BB! Its true....meetings keep this girl sober! The joy is, hearing things that perhaps you thought you were the only one going through. You hear how others dealt with it and if you havent already gone through it, you will be prepared when it happens..... Keep up the good work!!!
And Dean just thinks he's a hard ass....biggest softy we know!!!!
__________________
"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. "
Fact of the matter is that I can go without either as it is a choice I have the option to make, but I'm betting the results of ignoring either "suggestion" would have pretty much the same results-- at least for me. 
