I think if there is one thing that really blows my mind about AA it's the friends I have found in my short life without alcohol. I walked into my first few meetings thinking...Look at these poor saps....I'm not like that. I couldn't have been more wrong. I just kept coming back and the more I listened to them...The more I realized I was exactly like them. I was meant to be put on this earth to be surrounded by alcoholics. And I have been my whole life. But these alcoholics don't drink and they don't want to. And they will help me get that way. I guess that I just figured out that the so called friends I've had my entire life were just sick people like I was that didn't want to get better. I had had enough. I look forward to going and seeing these people every morning. Laughing, talking about football, fishing...whatever.
These people are my friends. We do things together. I never knew anything like this existed. I'm just really grateful I found it. It really blows my mind.
Just further evidence that miracles around us abound ... and that this program can help us to 'open' our eyes to witness such events in our midsts ... I too am very grateful to be here, alive, and sober ...
Come now, let us go help someone!
God Bless, Pappy
__________________
'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Thad, nice to hear the gratitude in your post. We are people who normally would not mix. I did the same thing when I entered the Halls. Who are these people? But, we share a common problem and a common solution. A solution based on Spiritual Principles. Real friends and fellowship. Something I didn't have when I was in the active drinking crowd.
"I'm not like that" Yep I do know that feeling! It kept me out of AA for years + years.
Thank goodness I've learned to look for the SIMILARITIES instead of the differences! *big grin*
The 1st meeting I ever went to - I was terrified of course - I walked into this LOUD, smoky room, filled with about 30 people and there was ONE chair left. It was right next to this HUGE biker-dude, dressed in leathers. He motioned for me to come sit by him and I was scared NOT to. He stuck out his hand and boomed
"HI! IM LESTER. YOU NEW?"
I took his hand and squeaked
"I'm Bon. Yes, I'm new."
He told me to
Keep Coming Back, Go to Meetings, and Don't Drink in Between.
So for almost 20 years that's what I've done. (Plus work a program of course!)
I was going through some pretty serious s*** when I 1st got sober - Lester + his sober (biker + non) friends took me under their collective wings and probably literally saved my life - certainly my sanity.
Certainly NOT who *I* would have chosen for a friend/savior - good thing I'd decided that day to let HP be in control and choose my friends!
And it's just gotten better as time goes on!
Bon.
-- Edited by Little White Bunny on Monday 28th of November 2011 11:16:01 PM
-- Edited by Little White Bunny on Monday 28th of November 2011 11:17:21 PM
-- Edited by Little White Bunny on Monday 28th of November 2011 11:19:41 PM
__________________
"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead. Thus we find the fellowship, and so will you.
You are going to meet these new friends in your own community. Near you, alcoholics are dying helplessly like people in a sinking ship. If you live in a large place, there are hundreds. High and low, rich and poor, these are future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous. Among them you will make lifelong friends. You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common journey. Then you will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and rediscover life. You will learn the full meaning of "Love thy neighbor as thyself."
It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more. How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness? The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come. The age of miracles is still with us. Our own recovery proves that!
I was reallly worried about losing exsisting friends when I can into AA, a guy told me to keep coming back and I will have more friends than I could ever imagine and he was right!
Abot a year ago, a good AA friend and golf buddy died at age 50 from a heart condition, he got sober in the rooms about 7 yrs ago soon after being transfered from out of state. He was well liked and attended a fair number of meetings.
About 25 family members traveled in from the midwest to GA, there was probably close to 300 people at the funeral almost 100% from AA. I told his family that everyone there was truly a friend and most of us at the event where also friends with each other.
No church or job aquaintences, friends of his wife or family or old schoolmates, just "real" current friends of his.
What a spiritual experience I took from this.
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
The gratitude shouts from your message here. I know I am still learning what friendship is and see all the time that I hadn't a clue before. My life was filled with people, people that lifted yet another drink with me. Most of those folks are scarce now and I'm developing better connections with folks. I'm doing things that before I couldn't imagine were fun. I remember the first time I met someone other than my sponsor for coffee and talk and totally enjoyed myself. It was so weird and good. I used to be scared of people who weren't my drinking partners, now I look forward to seeing people even just to say Hi at a meeting.
But, we share a common problem and a common solution. A solution based on Spiritual Principles. Real friends and fellowship. 
Something I didn't have when I was in the active drinking crowd. 