Hello everyone, Since school started for me I have gradually stopped going to my A.A. meetings. I see a lot of the members from my home group in the place where I work so I know that they know I am doing okay, but that really doesn't seem right somehow on so many levels. Idk, when I stopped going it was not that I did not want to go but just so much was going on at the time and then it would be something else. I'm sure someone out there knows what I'm saying. I hate the way I feel when I go back after not being there for a while. I feel like a child in front of people I don't know. It's stupid for me to feel like this, like I can't go back and like they are gonna act like they have never known me or meet me before. It's just my brain I guess, I will be shaky feeling like I want to suck my thumb just to feel comfortable, lol, it's just crazy thinking. I think I have got comfortable coming here and listening to all of you and writting when I need to...anyway, that's all really.
I'm glad I have been sober for a little over 18months now. Thx Carla
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Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is!
Don't feel too bad, I am right in the middle of the same thing, getting my butt back to meetings, went to a Monday night meeting, saw about 8 women that know me, and I was in a different community than I live in, I only did this because I was meeting an AA friend there, but not one person said, where have you been, or anything other than it is SO Good to see you.
We just dont judge, that is how i see it, when I dont see someone coming back, for a while, it might cross my mind, but then I let it go. (something like, I hope he is not drinking) but immediately let that one go.
Whenever I see someone that i have not seen in a while, it is JUST GOOD to see them, nothing else travels through my thoughts.
Just happy to see you going, and remember we can be at times our toughest critics.
Hi Sacrfice, I can relate. I stopped going to meetings for about a week or so after holiday. UNLIKE you (congrats on 18 months -- God willing, I'll be there someday!), I did have a few drinks in that time (so, I know now that if I stop going to meetings, I will drink again. Simple as that).
When I went back, response was as toni says -- smiles and how are you's, great to see yous. Only one guy did say "hadn't seen you in a while", but that wasn't really meant in a bad way, just a truthful way...and that didn't bother me given everyone else's warmth.
That's when I really started to love the Fellowship. You're ALWAYS welcome back to meetings and people just want to know that you're OK. Unlike when you miss things in other organsiations.
I just went through that not too long ago. When i first started college, i was still going to meeting and doing what i was supposed to do. When i got a little deeper in my studies, my meetings were getting shorter and shorter. Sometimes i would not go for a month. In between time i was still in contact with people in the fellowship and it helped but it was not the same as going to a meeting. I really did miss going to the meetings. I continue to work the steps to the best of my ability and when i graduated, i started going back to meeting more. I graduated from college May 20. A lot of people did ask me where have i been. The ones that i stayed in contact with, knew my situation but the others didn't. I didn't have a problem telling them what was going on in my life at the time. They were happy to see me and wanted to know will they see more of me now that i have grauated and my answer was yes. Basically i started going back to my meeting as if i never stoppped. Because actually i really didn't stop, i just was not going like i used to. Things had changed. Adjustment and balance are important to me in my life today. Congrats on your schooling. Keep coming back.
