Thanks to AA

Helmut · Newbie

Thanks to AA

Mike B. · MIP Old Timer

Helmut,
Welcome! Enjoy your journey. Your like many of us. Tried to get sober and maintain sobriety on our own. I tried on my own for 3 years. I was deviant and miserable. It's like the saying goes " 1/2 measures(or no measures) availed us nothing". Keep coming back and help us stay sober.

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

AA can be pretty powerful Helmut. It reminded me of the first meeting I went to. It was scheduled to be inside a specific building in room 3. When I went there, nobody was there. I asked around and nobody knew where the AA meeting was. I was getting pissed off and I was miserable already. There is a bar literally next door to this place. I wandered in that direction and there was enough light for me to see a doorway on the side of the building the meeting was supposed to be in. That is when I found AA. I busted in late and asked "Is this AA?" The meeting has been in the "garage" of that building for years I now know. Anyhow, an odd experience that I could also attribute to my higher power because I was literally standing in between a bar and the AA room which I couldn't find but eventually did. It was there for me too.

Reffner · Senior Member

Helmut,
Welcom back to the fellowship my friend. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't found AA. What a wonderful opprotunity we have to meet others like us, share our experience, strength, and hope, and be granted release from our addiction simply by getting together and helping each other stay sober. We are very fortunate as AA's. We have a disease that lets us become better, happier people once we start down the path of recovery. I'm glad you found the meeting, and hope you'll keep going back and comming back here.

Brian

toni baloney · Senior Member

Hi There Helmut,

And Welcome Home !!!

Just like you, I did not go straight into Sobriety, I did use the doors of AA, but used them in a Swinging Motion, in and out every other week, or month, that lasted for also 10 years. I just did not get the meetings, the People, and those Steps seemed to me to be in Greek, I would look at them, get so overwhelmed and then just avoid looking at them.

I Pray that this time you will stay, just one day at a time, here with us, and in the Loving arms of AA.

You mentioned " forever" and that was way too daunting a task, but I could do the one day at a time.

Do you have that little black book, called 24 hours a Day, it was for me my little bible for the 1st years of my Recovery. This little Book has a thought, meditation and a Prayer for each day of the year.

I have only experienced one meeting not being there in my years now, and it was when I had set my clock the wrong way on a Day Light Savings Sunday morning.
I got there, the parking Lot was empty, and I recall so clearly feeling that the meeting had abandoned me. I realized that I had made the error, and so just drove around for what felt like forever, and had coffee and donuts somewhere, but it was important for me to go back to that meeting, just to make sure it was still there.

Interesting subject, well maybe for another time, how some of us abandon the meetings, but the AA meetings NEVER abandon us.

So Welcome again, looking forward to getting to know you.

I think you might be very happy with who you meet here, and what you will find here, to compliment your meetings.

Hugs to you,

Toni

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Hey Helmut, welcome back home. stick around and help us to stay sober

Dean

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Wednesday 12th of August 2009 11:51:37 PM

kj · Veteran Member

Welcome Helmut

Sobrietyspell · MIP Old Timer

AA. Thank God! It was taking place!
... I want the hand of A.A to be there...!
And it was there - now once more I owe my soberness to A.A.!
I had attended a AA. meeting nearly exactly 10 years ago. I thougt I could do on
my own, manage controlled drinking and do not have to work the steps.
I definitely did not work out!
And therefore I'm back at Mother A.A. It's my last chance and I will and have to
work the steps thouroughly and continually.
I will be coming back, forever!

Many thanks to A.A.!

Helmut/alcoholic

Welcome to MIP, Helmut. It is the Steps & the Fellowship that help me to stay sober today 1Day@aTime. Joy to you for having the opportunity to work them now after all that time. Some of us never, ever, make it. We die ignorant of this answer in tragic, avoidable circumstances. Sad. But, I am grateful you have made it here & back to A.A. Today. Keep coming back. Godbless & Goodluck in your recovery. Enjoy this journey. It's a wonderful adventure this beautiful thing called life & your 'soberness' (I love that lol) helps you to live it. In loving support, Danielle x

Jerry F · MIP Old Timer

Aloha Helmut...I like your determination. Most often it is what is most important.
I learned that the hand of AA was always out there for me but like some of the
others I might not have been there at the same time or I was at a closed rather
than open meeting and was asked to leave because I was "just looking". I've
been around since with wide open eyes and wide open mind I have never found
anything close to saving a willing alcoholic other than a group of other willing
alcoholics.   This is the most powerful program for change I've ever seen and
experienced.   I am glad you are here and glad the others are here also and
therefore glad I am too.   God does for me what I can't do for myself by using
the others in the program.   Aren't you grateful for the bike?

(((((hugs))))) smile