Hi Amanda and Chris, I like to think we are all on an equal playing field each day...because today is the true test...will I stay sober by the grace of God?

The steps have helped me in all areas of my life, I am truely powerless over alcohol and other people place or things. I know that a power greater than myself is restoring me to sanity, and the list goes on. Taking a personal inventory, making admends...

This program works as we share our experience, strength and hope with one another. I must be honest, open-minded and willing to receive. Sometimes things are shared that I don't agree with but it is not up to me to set the person straight, I take what I like and leave the rest. I've heard so much awesome stuff on this board , thank you all. I've also heard some stuff I had to leave on the table and that's okay.

No one here is more of a winner than anyone else, just a bunch of drunks staying sober one day at a time. I'm so grateful for the program that is spoken here, by all who speak it.Priciples above personalities is so important...one of the things that puts us on that even field.

I do feel that the newcomer is still the most important person in the room and that if I don't do anything else, I'd better say welcome.

(((Hugs)))

GammyRose

You all have some good points for me to consider, and I've been thinking. Well, one thing, right off..  getting carried away with emotions is a good dry drunk and can blot out objective reality, and we can get a great adrenalin rush that is almost as good as alcohol.

Another thing I was thinking is that I remember the first time I was elected chairperson of a group, and then was invited to be the GSR (general service representative). I was told right from the start..  "now don't get the wrong idea about these offices".  It was put to me a couple of ways,,, one that if I wanted to be proud of being in leadership... to look who it was that I was leading, a bunch of drunks, and to remember that I am a drunk leading drunks. They also said that positions in AA were not really leadership positions, but service positions. They didn't mean I was more qualified than anybody else, or that I had more power than anyone else,, or that I could change any AA policies. They meant that I was to sit in the chairperson's seat with the responsibility to carry out coordination of already set policies and format,,,  just to call on people so they weren't talking all at once,,,  keep us on the suggested topics, start meetings on time, end them with prescribe concluding customs. I was definitely not to throw my weight around, or to put my nose up in the air,,,  as alcoholics don't take too well to that, and I would find myself with some reactions.  The District and Regional reps are also representatives, not legislators.... they go to meetings and listen and present our messages and questions,,, and come back with reports and messages from central. They should bring back manuals and literature to make available to everyone about what is going on, how to get the meeting in suggested format,,, and with numbers to call with complaints.  Most people didn't want to be area service reps,,  they have to go to meetings where there are problems,, and listen,,,  and help the group to understand better what the AA guidelines are and how to meet them.

Might be a good idea to make a thread on the Step 2 passages about how real mature elders act, as opposed to people who have been in it awhile and are getting ego kicks in manipulating the group.

hey....  from one recovering drunk to the others,,,  keep on working those Steps, and the program, and more will be revealed, eh?

amanda

amanda2u2 wrote:

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Is there anyone here that is considered -   more of a 'winner' than the others?  The boss? The judge? The last word? The one who finally has it perfectly? The mommy or daddy of whom we are all children in comparison? The guru of MIP?  or are we basically just a bunch of recovering alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope from whtever perspective we have?........ AA approved literature.

______________________

 

My opinion. Let's see,  hmmm....  yes, no, no no, no, no, no, yes.

For me literature doesn't always have to be AA approved i.e. I'm reading The Purpose Driven Life right now and it's real cool how there's a lot that can be applied to my program....

lol    I'm also reading some outside books. I just know which books are for this program and which books are for the rest of my life. A lot of stuff is compatible.  I read the Bible, I am writing a biography of St Martin de Porres. I like Guidepost magazine,,  but I don't talk about them here or in my AA meeting. As far as how anybody does their program,,, hey...  the literature tells us how it was meant to be, what the concepts are,,  but we all do it the best way we can.  Why should I judge anybody who wants to do it a softer easier way?  The thing of it is that we each get the consequences of our actions, or inactions in our lives.  My goal and interest is learning how to work the program so that my life improves, and that has a ripple effect. How Josie does hers and how that affects her life is her business. We are supposed to 'carry the message',,, and I do,, but what happens to it from there....  back to Step 1...  I can't control that and it's better to turn that over to God,, and let God be Josie's God.  It's hard to be somebody's God. I'm just another drunk plodding through my life,,,  can't run anyone else's. But I can post up the Steps on the Step Work Board, and a Tradition or two here,,, and do my share on it. :)  I focus on AA approved stuff, and the AA slogans, Traditions and Steps,,,  but if someone else posts up some positive stuff from other sources I have no problem with that..  I take what I need and leave the rest.

God bless you all,

amanda