Ok- sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake lol. It seemed to me that as of late, things just aren't going my way. Mostly little things, but they do tend to add up pretty rapidly and become overwhelming. I thought I got kicked out of a service position- not true. There was a simple misunderstanding at my home group that led me to the conclusion that I wasn't doing a good job, and I'm not welcome. Like 'they' are plotting against poor, helpless me. Ive also had a gnawing feeling that nobody really likes me in AA- I don't fit in. Strange how I've noticed many people being friendly with me lately. Oh, and theres that huge resentment I have against one guy at a meeting who I have tremendous respect for but who I have felt snubbed by for 10 months... And I extended my resentment to the particular mewing I know him from, everybody who goes there, and all meetings in that neighborhood. Crazy? Absolutely. As I'm writing this, I can also clearly see the immaturity and humor in this. I could've seen this earlier if I wasn't so unaware of the fact that I'm still very wrapped up in my insecurities and apparently huge ego. Really? I'm going to resent an entire neighborhood to feed my ego? Wow. Its dawning on me that it is, in fact, not all about me. I also see my penchant for collecting new AA related resentments as my disease trying to sabotage my efforts at becoming somewhat comfortable with sobriety. Yikes- my head is a very bad place to spend too much time in.Funny how much easier things seem to go when I put my energy into listening to and trying to help others. Who knew?
-- Edited by Col on Sunday 14th of April 2013 08:10:28 PM
Keep in mind, "the mind is like a parachute, it only works if it's open" ... ... ... keep your wits about you and realize that things are not always as they seem to be ... be very slow to judge, it will help keep you and your mind out of trouble that doesn't exist ...
Expand your idle time to reading more of the older AA books if you can ... there's a lot of history, not to mention wisdom, in them ... your mind needs some other things to drive you nuts, ummm, I mean to drive you back to sanity with your thinking ...
Love ya
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Start with 'Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers' ... 'Language of the Heart' is good also ... 'As Bill Sees It' ...
Something that made sobriety possible for me was of course a non-AA book, 'The Shack' by William P. Young ... ... ... this book gave a spiritual kick in the a__, umm, rear ... ... ... 1st half hard to swallow, 2nd half of it saved my very soul, not to mention, my life ... ... ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
((((Col)))) been there...done that and remember those growing up lessons which were crazy and then humorous. Go "thru" them and you'll come out the other side in gratitudes because you are awake and aware and clear about what is going on. Its for me a relapse of sorts...not the chemical kind for sure but the chemicaled training for sure. When I was drinking my habits...mind, body, spirit and emotions became "usual" daily behaviors for me...drink in hand or not and so I practiced that stuff and not much of anything else...I lost sanity and sobriety and so coming out of it was retraining...program retraining. I sold or gave away the spot light I tried to stay in the glow of when at the same time I felt compulsed to act as if no one else was on the stage I occupied. Retrain...practice, practice, practice...learn new ways of thinking and seeing and listening and talking...do what others do that are different and more successful than what I did. Recovery. No it's not all about you or me for that matter. We don't have to be right...we can choose happy instead. There is lots of literature out there...lots...from Mother Teresa to Bill W to Og Mandino and more...take your time...be patient and turn down the bright lights and sit in the shade for awhile. Great post ((((hugs))))
It is funny to look at ourselves and how we think. Sobriety and the program allow us to realize our drunk thinking conditioned us to think like "Stewie" from Family Guy.
Tom
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
I can go from feeling like Mr. Popular at one meeting to Loser boy at the next. And then a substancial amount of times, my head is in a more rational place which is that it doesn't matter and I look for the person who's share I identified with during the meeting and I go up to them and talk with them either cuz they might need me or I wanted to tell them I appreciated them. It's better when I stick in that head space rather than wondering where I am ranking on the popularity/AA status list....and I do go there all too much.
Someone was passing out birthday invitations to their 70th birthday after the meeting Saturday. I was all like "WTF! I am not popular. I didn't get one!" Then realized, I barely know that guy and I wouldn't have gone anyhow. I just wanted to be invited so I could not show up? Pretty lame right? It reminded me of being in grade school.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Nice post Col! Oh yes! That bad neighborhood between my ears. I was told never to go there alone. But, I still do... because I'm an Alcoholic with a diesase that centers in my mind and effects the way I think and act. Without help, it's too much for me. That's why I'm here. If I wonder too far from God or The Program, I start to believe the lies my head tells me. Then, I'm heading back toward a drink instead of away from one. Thanks for posting, this is what it's all about.