...and was so thankful to be in my homegroup and with my sponsor again. I wanted to thank this board for being my lifeline as I relapsed overseas. I needed your reinforcement all was not lost and there's always a place for me in the program. I feel a genuine love for the AA program, my sponsor & my homegroup. What a feeling of serenity....thanks again...
happycamper wrote:Glad you made it back here ... for there are some who dont. They either stay out there drinking, or they die.
Quoted for truth, every chair in a meeting is a "deadman's chair". If the meeting has been around for awhile, someone who sat in that chair died from this disease. Recovery is a gift and an open window that may not open again. We can easily talk ourselves out of returning next time. I relapsed a couple dozen times in a 2 year period and consider myself extrememly blessed to have finally gotten it. Make a list of what's missing from your program and get busy with it. For me it was working the program with a competent sponsor, daily meetings, service work, and engaging in the fellowship. Living with other recoverying AA's for the first 3 years was also a great asset. Get busy with it, and welcome back.
Sorry I didn't see this before I posted my last comment to your relapse post. I hope you feel blessed because you are. Maybe in ways that you don't know. You are certainly blessed because you helped everyone who watched your insanity overseas. I personally lived vicariously through your story so I could see how stupid I could be in your shoes as I am sure you feel the same about the experience you had.
Glad your home. Like someone said... Have a plan next time. Do this for you... Not your wife our anyone else.
Good Job App! It take a while in AA to really realize that the safety net expand all over (including different countries). Next trip you know how to plan ahead.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Coming back after one night of drinking was hard in some ways. At the same time it emphacised how much I had to lose. I applied myself to recovery on a deeper level, surrendered more fully and took so seriously the need to cultivate a connection with my HP and living by spiritual principles. Because of what I'd already gained by staying sober a year when I slipped, I knew immediately that the buzz was empty and pointless, and if I'd keep going I would end up destroyed and dead. I took the program serious before, but after that night, everything changed. I took every suggestion and went with it as best I could. Finished the last steps. The biggest thing I learned was to pay attention and cultivate the best spiritual condition every single day. This has made the difference. With my HP's help, I have a choice how to handle negative attitude. I've now watched people deal sober with horrible life experiences and while it's hard, not falter and wave "the dark side" on in. I'll keep coming back and I hope you do to.
