I have observed that there are many new people that have come to the board. Firstly, I want to encourage you to stay in recovery. Secondly, do not be discouraged. We have all been there. I can write a book about my 1st day, my 1st month, my 1st year. Having lost all faith in myself and despite myself, I still got well. Why? Because once I acknowledged my utter powerlessness and unmanageable life, God Himself sent someone to pick me up. I found God can manifest His strength in my weakness. When everything seemed bleak in my hour of total darkness, and I gave up the fight to run my own life and I stood utterly still, my feeble voice reached the doors of heaven. In that stillness and desolation I felt the hand of God reach out and pick me up. Bill calls it "the 4th dimension." Some call it a "conversion." The BB calls it a "spiritual awakening." Please seek for it. The BB says "that God could and would if He were sought." Ask, seek, knock. We do not receive because we do not ask.
By coming to a deeper understanding of our Higher Power,developed by sharing in anothers recovery,we do become visions of hope,we become examples of the program working and the joy of living a life free and clean from active addiction is an attraction to the newcomer.If you are just coming around,new today or still not sure whats going on STAY, you to ,with even one day, can carry the message of hope and the promise of freedom from active addiction to those still sick and suffering!!If God is for us,who can be against us!!!
__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
My first meeting was in the garage at the local GLBT center...I didn't know there were meetings in this converted garage. I was lost and couldn't find the meeting. The building is right next to a big bar that I used to go to. I was standing in the parking lot between what I thought was a meeting...and a bar. (Reminds me of the literature "We stood at a turning point.." Literally). I was about to drive home and I saw a little light poking from a doorway attached to the main building. I walked in and said "Is this AA?" The speaker joked and said "Do you have a ticket?" I was oblivious to the joke and later broke down sharing how it was my first meeting and it took all my strength to get there. The people were so welcoming...like nothing I ever experienced.
I hope everyone has that experience as a newcomer.
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Best thing that I was told when I was newcomer was "keep coming back."
I did, no matter what happened, even when I thought that I was never going to get that thing called sobriety -- ever -- and even when I thought that I had that sobriety thing all figured out and I didn't need that AA thing anymore.
I've got a host of new friends, I have a family all over this gosh-darned planet that I can visit and it doesn't cost me anything other than what I throw in the hat.
I was never a newcomer. I knew I belonged, felt it down to my toes, whether I wanted to "be" an alcoholic or not. It's funny--I have long term sobriety and I like to hit meetings I've never been to, especially when out of town or out of state. I often get greeted as though I am presumed to be a brand newbie and I almost chuckle inside at how warm and welcoming people will go out of their way to be when they think you are new. Yet in a way that never really changes, it just takes on a slightly different flavor when you become a familiar face. Maybe none of us are ever really newcomers, maybe we're all just "coming home".
