I just went to my 1st AA meeting last weds. its been 9 days ive been sober.i know its a long process and yesterday was very tough for me,it being july 4th and all.i was just wondering if there is any advice anyone could give me since i just started going to meetings and still dont know what to quite expect.
Welcome to the board. Best thing I can tell ya is keep going, and going, and going. It's always suggested to do 90 meetings in 90 days. I know for me and many others, early on, 1 meeting a day wasn't enough. I'm a firm believer that our recovery/sobriety is directly proportionate to the amount of time and work we are willing to spend in meetings and working the program. For some, 1 meeting a week may be enough, but for me, 3 is the absolute minimum, with 5 being my preference. AA is not something that we do for a while and get better. AA is about a complete life change, meaning we change everything. Sounds daunting, but we don't have to (nor do we) make those changes over night. In fact, at least for me, I know there will be changes that were never fully made before I retire from this earth, but as long as I'm stiving to make them I'm on the right track. I'm sure you'll have many replies, some I'm sure more helpful than this, so try to keep an open mind, and remember that we are a group that help each other in order to stay alive and sober a day at a time.
Brian
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Nothing ever truly dies. The universe wastes nothing. Everything is simply, transformed. :confuse:
Reg1Love... glad you're here. you got 9 days... that is awesome. it's also hard. be good to yourself right now. eat well. sleep as much as you can. and READ THE BIG BOOK. Just read it to kill time... it won't hurt. We are here too... if you need us.
What can you expect, now that you joined AA? Good question. It may seem like a huge undertaking in the beginning but it does get better...over time. I know it's the last thing anyone wants to hear, especially with all the struggles we go through, but it does improve -we promise. I remember how I felt early on in my sobriety and how overwhelming everything seemed. I suffered endlessly until one day I said "enough". The day I introduced myself as a recovering alcoholic -in an open AA forum, was my first day without regret. AA not only helped me overcome those horrible fears I was accustomed too, but gave me some much needed insight on how to deal with life beyond my inhibitions. Tom, the "addiction counselor" and also my first sponsor helped me overcome the initial shock (my alcoholism) and the rest has been etched in a "one day at a time" philosophy that has been a blessing ever since.
AA has given me a second chance at life, despite my initial skepticism. There are no more failed marriages nor messy divorces, no more suicide attempts or broken hearts and certainly no more late nights and endless excuses. Life is much different today and I have AA and this forum to thank for that. I enjoy life today, even with all the ups and downs, setbacks and disappointments. My life is full of endless possibilities and AA has been my lifeline, despite all else. There is still a measure of hope in every recovering alcoholic's story and we hope your story line will have a happy ending as well.
~God bless~
-- Edited by Mr_David on Wednesday 6th of July 2011 12:20:27 AM
Dont think of it as a long road, if you take it 1 day at a time and minus 6-8 hrs sleep a day you only deal with it 16 hrs a day. Dont drink and go to meetings.
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The smallest of good deeds is greater than the best of intentions.
Anonymous
Tomorrow is day 60 for me and though every moment hasn't been easy, life is better today than it was and, for that, I am very grateful.
~ vixen
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
Hi! Congratulations! You made a wonderful step to recovery. AA is a support group that will guide you and assist you to keep up with your determination to be sober. Good luck!
Aloha Reg...from my experiences what you can expect is that if you do what the elder fellowship that you meet in the meetings do you will gain and maintain sobriety. Vixen has 60 days. Congratulations to both of you!! Wow!! She's doing what I did starting at the 90X90. Where I got sober there were 439 meetings a month in the tri-valley area so doing 90X90 was easy. I expected to be changed and by the grace of God and AA I was. Keep coming back. Don't drink...Don't think and follow what Vixen listed. ((((hugs))))
