I remember when I first came in the rooms there were all these people who knew so much more than me, I judged them to be a bunch of smartarses and felt intimidated and 'little.'
as time went on, I realised that these people knew so much more than I about some things, then realised they knew so much more than me on one particular and important thing - how to live sober.
I changed my view of them to a room full of Mums and Dads who would look after me and take responsibility for me
Then that changed to rooms full of Aunties and Uncles, who would listen to me and provide encouragement - within their terms.
Now I've got to feeling that we are all Brothers and Sisters - we're all equal and we can all learn from and teach each other.
So I've gained a new, extended family that I can contribute to, learn from, argue with, fall out with, agree with, all that Walton's style family stuff, but deep down I believe that they are there for me as I am there for them. They'll come to my aid as I'll go to theirs. They'll share my joys and share my sorrows as I will share theirs. we've got each other's back. we catch each other when we fall, sometimes even before we fall.
I used to get upset when I heard people talking about their joy's in their children or grandchildren, now I can share their joy as they share my sorrow at my lack of contact with my son and daughter. It actually makes it easier to live with this particular set of consequences than it otherwise could be.
This, to me, is the greater part of the fellowship that is present in the rooms of AA. There are some people there that I trust with my life, my liberty and my money. (Not all of them - prudence plays a part too!). Basically there is so much love in the fellowship of AA that sometimes it overwhelms me.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
You certainly are not the stereotypical "BIKER" (LOL)
You have a heart of gold and a way with words that is awe inspiring.
Sometimes someone says something really small, and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart.
Thanks, yeah, I know, but you shoulda seen me 4 years ago (or maybe not even that long ago, eh Av?)
I spent years trying to live up to the stereotypical image of a UK Biker (which is much different to the Sons of Anarchy model - probably the greatest comedy show on TV)
I was all black leather jacket, jeans and doc Martens, open face lid and goggles, which morphed into full black leathers and full face, then Charlie and Ewan wanna be with the adventure bike, motoX helmet and off road jacket and pants.
We got all sorts here, from leather clad power rangers, through time warp stuck classics, to grumbly commuters and the adventure crowd.
One highlight for me was 1988, Isle of Man, me and a mate on a BMW 800 GS, all day trail riding,arrived at the BMW owners club meet and were shunned for being hot and sweaty and dirty. One owner of a gleaming GS asked where we'd been. My mate pointed at Dalby Mountain behind us and said we've come on tracks from the otherside of there. This bloke then says impossible, can't be done on these, to which my mate replied, well watch us go home then, he's driving and you try to keep up. (no pressure then.)
Anyway, you're right, I'm a big softie at heart.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
