I have to always focus on the program of recovery first. That takes effort. I found that when I put program first, my life became more manageable. I began to be OK around my fellowship of AA friends. Those that are on the program were easy to fellowship with, because we were always talking about our own individual recoveries. We shared on the steps and we shared about our own problems and solutions. In our area program talk has become a way of life. Speakers always share on the steps and very little stories. The newcomers are sponsored likewise and they do not relapse. Our own group has 2 retreats a year, one for 5th step sharing and the other for team building. Many of the other groups have followed suite. Also our leaders are trusted servants. They go out of their way to serve the newcomer.
I admire your group and your disipline. My sponsor has asked me to start all my shares with "our stories dislose in a general way what it used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now" as a subtle reminder for other group members to keep their shares from getting too "off program."
If I don't have a "before/after" that's relevant to the topic from "Daily Reflections" I give a grateful pass. My broken lawn-mower and my kid's softball game are rarely relevant to the program.
Gonee - Sounds like a great group. I'm about to move back to where I got sober, and I'm excited because this is the same attitude and "teachings" that I received there.
