I'm just having a hard time understanding how these complete strangers will make me feel welcomed to meetings? I don't know them... they don't know me... I've spent too much time being judged by other people for my drinking I'm scared this will happen at a meeting too. Help?
Many of us walked in and were warmly welcomed in AA when everyone else was happy to see the last of us, because we know there is hope for you, we know you never have to drink again, because we know you have been a very sick person and we have the answer to make you well, and because all of this was so freely offered to us
That's how we stay sober is joyfully pulling the people behind us up, imagine if you could cure cancer patients with nothing but love and hugs....wouldn't you offer that to cancer patients? Especially if you had survived that same fatal cancer just by following a few simple instructions, wouldn't you be eager to offer that hope to other sufferers of the same fatal malady?
And all you had to do was offer love, support, and show them what had been shown to you? And that's how you kept your own cure active?
It's Altruism at it's finest, because if we ask for anything in return it doesn't work for you or for us, so we are selfless because we are selfish, because it works
-- Edited by AGO on Thursday 22nd of April 2010 01:41:48 PM
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a night, light a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
We,in recovery, are able to identify and not compare.A simple honest message of recovery from addiction always rings true.You really don't have to understand at first,just keep showing up and you'll feel the love and hear the message of hope.Make a meetng and let us know how it went...
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Aloha Cobbrose...we're not so very different. We suffer from the same common problem a life threatening disease (In every aspect...Mind, Body, Spirit and Emotions). I resisted also. I am a natural resistor...isolator and loner; its how I drank and nearly died from drinking...toxic shock...all alone at the time.) So here is what was given to me early on that helped...Don't listen to the differences twix me and others but the similarities and then ask for help. If I hadn't had help overcoming the fear and being open minded alcoholism would have directly contiributed to an early demise.
It's okay to take little bites of the program to start. Big bites might choke you altogether however don't drink when you're chewing on what you're been fed.
I did not understand a first either but I could not deny the fact that I was genuinely welcomed with out judgment. Alcoholics like me always have the ability to determine when someone is genuine or when they pretend to be nice. I knew it was genuine even though I did not understand.
Now having listened to many stories, I know that we have all passed the same way on our journey to Hell. We all made a U-Turn and started a journey to a much better life. I no longer hate the face in the mirror. I used to hate myself, Thanks to AA that is past history. I like the guy in the mirror today.
Experience counts more than thousands of words, when you attend your first meeting you will know what we all experienced.
Let us know how it goes.
Larry, -------------------- I only need one meeting a week but I have to go to seven meetings to find out which one that is
I no longer hate the face in the mirror. I used to hate myself, Thanks to AA that is past history. I like the guy in the mirror today
That is important enough that I think it bears repeating, that is my experience as well, I didn't even know I hated myself, I didn't even know I had low self esteem
Today I deserve the best, and get it, by not taking it, but by giving it, and I get it in my life naturally
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Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a night, light a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
Judgement can always occur, I think the odds are very slim that a room full of drunks will judge you. We all suffer from the same disease, and i know I never felt I was being judged
Selfishness is the root of our problems, helping others helps us stay sober and allows us to give back the gift that others so freely gave to us.
If it would make you less fearful, you can call the local AA central office and they will have someone contact you and either take you, or meet you at the meeting. By doing this you will already know someone who know a little about you and can introduce you to others.
Take Care! Rob
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Hi Cobbrose, Welcome. We help each other in numbers because that's how it works.
We come from all walks of life; professionals, farmers, factory workers, teachers, students, educated, illiterate, sane, looney, pastors (lots of clergy, actually. Anybody else notice that?), criminals, rich-folks from old money, homeless folks with no money, straight, gay, other, young, old, soldiers, home-makers, medical workers and whatevers but we all have one thing in common.... A Desire To Stop Drinking. I alone can do it, but I can't do it alone.
So, we gather up in groups of all types, big and small, and set aside every other difference we have for the sole purpose of helping one another get and stay sober.
You don't have to go in there and start spewing your deepest, darkest secrets...in fact it's suggested that you don't during regular meetings.
Why do I give a sh*t if YOU get and stay sober? What's in it for ME? Helping YOU get and stay sober helps ME stay sober.
