Angela

Congratulations on one year.  Now you know it can be done.

Larry,
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I am no longer a victim of this 'disease', if I pick up a drink today, I am a volunteer.

Thank you folks.  Your kindness means a lot to me.  It all started right here for me.  Well, like many folks it really started late at night in my bedroom with a plea for an end to the insanity.  I saw then.  But the flicker of hope really came when I found MIP later the next night or next following day,  on June 1. 

This year has been a true gift and I offer my one year aniversary up to anyone who comes here thinking nothing can change for them.  I offer the hope for a better, sane life to others.  It happend day by day, little by little.  I believe working the steps of AA has made all the difference.  Even when I sat right here in this chair and couldn't feel the difference.  Then later on I'd take inventory of the before and after and recognize the difference in amazement. 

Am I through?  No way.  I used to think that gaining wisdom, like that spoken about in the Serentity prayer meant that a person has arrived at some destination.  Now I see how wisdom is revelation, inspiration, and many little aha moments and this wisdom is about eternal spiritual and personal growth.

That said, Yes Daniella, I'll take the dare.  At least I'll try.  Meaning-to post my ESH in the LONG form (a heads' up there) of my AA story.  So after this I'll try to download that. 

Also as is my sideways Cancerian habit I'll tack on here something that I've wanted to post about directly:  I have been repeatedly challenged by fear of posting right here at MIP, despite my overwhelming love for the forum, love for the fellowship and all the alkies here.

Sometimes it's so bad I don't post or come to look.  It'll pass and I'll keep going.  I've discussed this issue with two sober sisters here at MIP privately.  That helps.  Sometimes I recognize my fear around posting as solidly located in the ego.  The first thing I recognized in a meeting was my immediate judgements and paralyzing fear of being judged.  The main thing I want to out myself on is that sometime I have to leave off posting and looking at all, if I come to the board looking for specific responses to my posts, or find myself upset at lack of responses.  In my heart I feel the best approach to the board is to always keep the Primary Purpose in mind and heart-to help the alcoholic stay sober.  When I post and reply I need to come with service to this purpose in the forefront.

I try to apply program tools to work with this fear issue and it helps.  I feel stupid even writing about it.  The honest truth is that I do sometimes get upset and feel so bad about the whole thing.  I do love everyone.  Mostly I want to finish by saying that I respect and love the courage everyone has to share of themselves so that we can try to be better people and grow spiritually. And oh yeah, IT'S AWESOME TO BE SOBER A WHOLE DANG YEAR!

Thank you
Smiles,
Angela

Congratulations

Angela,
Congratulations!  Nicely done. 

CONGRATS ANGELOV8 ON 1 YEAR!