Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all:) I've always loved Christmas eve more than the actual day of Christmas. Since I was a cute little girl (I WAS pretty cute! Lol). Anyway, I'm not doing the pity party thing this year which feels... Foreign to me. I've realized something over the course of this past weekend (many things, actually). I've realized that I truly need and desire to reach out to others in AA. Ok, yes this is a concept that I've heard countless times over the past 7 months. I mean Everyone told me this... Tell your story, raise your hand in meetings, ASK FOR HELP, reach out. I heard this message. I understood it. I kinda didn't think it applied to me haha. I kinda just thought 'hey, I'm at a meeting- I introduced myself. I have a sponser-that's good enough'... I can do the rest on my own, right?? WRONG!! Nope- wrong. This is a mentality I've had for far too long. This whole 'I don't need anybody' is just plain wrong. I have been humbled further than is comfortable. Maybe I needed to in order to learn this hard lesson. I'm taking it as a Christmas gift that I didn't know I wanted, but desperately need. I've been pretty stubborn but for no good purpose. I do not, in fact, have it all figured out from a safe distance. I'm actually kinda a mess at times haha. Maybe I can be of service to others that are in the same boat instead of observing:) I think it's going to be a good first sober Christmas!
AA for me is like my big safety net for facing the world. I never had that before. I guess some folks sort of get it in church maybe? I dunno but you can't just walk into any church service and be home in the community like you can an AA meeting. A large portion of my social network is AA. Hence, when I need help of any kind, it often comes through the program. That can be lawyerly advice, doctor recommendations, and even job leads. Merry Christmas Colleen.
I've also never seen you as anything but humble here but I'm only getting the version of you that came asking for and wanting help (sober you) so it's hard to imagine different. That's a good thing.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Thank you so much for sharing that ... now, I know my prayers have been answered ... your journey here has been very inspiring for others ... what you have shared in the past serves to bring to light the many trials we face early in recovery ... I have no doubt that many others have been inspired by your story so far ... I know that there are large numbers of people that read this forum who choose not to share, but are never the less encouraged by our posts ... I think, if nothing else, this helps keep the doors open to those who have yet to choose to live our 'way or life' or not ... it's the best that those of us who do share can hope to achieve ...
AND, we should always keep them in our prayers ... to share out ESH is to give them Hope ... to let them know there is a way out of the 'darkness' ...
Love you and God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Not judging, but what I can see here at MIP, you do a great job of reaching out (E-reaching :)). One thing that I tell the guys I sponsor is get to the meeting at leas 30 min early and greet/ shake hands with everyone as the walk in the door. I often do it with them.
A few weeks of this and everyone will seem to know you better.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
To add to what Rob brought up, I too, recommend to my sponsees to come 30 min early and prepare to stick around 20 to 30 min after ... down here, we call it the 'meeting before the meeting' and 'the meeting after the meeting' ... a whole lot of good things are discussed on a one-on-one basis &/or as a small group ... and it goes a long way toward showing one's commitment to the program ... you know, where your priorities lie ... and it allows for getting 'closer' to our brothers and sisters ... and also gives one the chance to discuss personal issues that need not be a part of the regular meeting ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
