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Post Info TOPIC: 14 year in..


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14 year in..
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Do I really need meetings? 

I was told "if you drank every day, you go to meetings every day!" But I didn't drink more than 5 years.. 



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MIP Old Timer

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Welcome to MIP HighPriestess......This is the way I look at meetings. This problem we share...Is a three part problem....Mental, Physical and Spiritual. It has a three part solution.....Recovery(Steps), Unity(Fellowship/meetings) and Service(Carrying the message/Giving back what so freely given to us.)

So if what I have is a three part solution....I'm going to continue to work on all three parts. Here's an interesting fact.....The only place I've been able to find all three parts together......Is at meetings.

I heard a guy once answer it like this....

Q: How long do I have to go to meetings?

A: You have to go to meetings until you want to go to meetings...Then you don't have to go anymore.

Think about that.



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When all else fails...Follow the directions.



MIP Old Timer

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Ditto what Stepdude said ... ... ... Never heard that Step ... thanks, I gotta steal it for my tool bag ... and above all, it's very true!!!



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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'



MIP Old Timer

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How you doing my friend? Good to see your cheerful self and the dog. If you were at a meeting nearby I'd join you at it.

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When all else fails...Follow the directions.



MIP Old Timer

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HighPriestess, think of it this way: Meetings aren't just for you. They're so you can carry the message to others.

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MIP Old Timer

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HighPriestess wrote:

Do I really need meetings? 

I was told "if you drank every day, you go to meetings every day!" But I didn't drink more than 5 years.. 


Meetings are not mandatory, HP. Some people in successful recovery go to very few. Some go to none at all. Over my time in AA, I have varied my attendance levels, from very few, to many, to LOTS! Not necessarily in that order.

I have also tried online meetings such as those at aaonline.net and other locations.

People in recovery who don't go to many (or any) meetings seem to drift away from the AA program. Once they drift away, some drink and get drunk. Not good.

Go to as many meetings as you need to to stay sober. Sobriety is the goal.

Let us know how it turns out, whatever you decide to do...

 

 



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First, deal with the things that might kill you.

 



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HighPriestess,

I figure this disease is out in the parking lot, doing push ups, waiting for the opportunity to strike again!

I'm not gonna give it that chance, if I have anything to do about it. So I still go to meetings, 3-4 a week.

At a meeting I can help another alcoholic, re-establish faith in a higher power, hear what I may or may not be doing to stay sober, and see my friends.

I'm safest in the "middle of the boat" so, I'm not ever gonna quit going, if I have anything to do about it!

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Just another Bozo on the bus...



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What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our "spiritual condition". (AA BB p.85)

Meetings are not a requisite to maintain our spiritual condition any more than regular sex is a requisite to not cheating on your spouse. There are some in both camps that would argue that it is easier though. Also some that would argue that one has nothing to do with the other. The answer for you cannot come from someone else.

I attended meetings faithfully for three years, attending 372 meetings in my first 90 days, over 1000 in my first year. At the three year mark I stopped attending for a variety of reasons.

a) There simply weren't enough hours in the day. I was a single parent raising my toddler daughter while attending university. I was in the honors program and a double major in math and physics. I mention this last part to indicate that my homework was never sit in a tub and read Shakespeare. I found that I had a choice, I could meditate daily, or I could give up that time and attend meetings - but not both.

b) I found that the only time I locked my car door or sat with my back to the wall any longer was when I was at a meeting.

c) My tools for continuing recovery became more nuanced and subtle.

And so I quit going to meetings for seventeen years. My wife has since (three years ago) been ordered to meetings and I attend with her because I enjoy being with her, the time factor is no longer a factor, and it doesn't harm my recovery.

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MIP Old Timer

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According to AA, we members attend an average of 2.6 meetings/week.
It's up a little in recent years.

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MIP Old Timer

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G'day High Priestess .

As stated , some of us continue go to go to meetings for Our own various reasons .

I had an accident on 10th March 1986 , a steel rod through my face , I came to

4 days later , I was released 2 days later . They told me I had a smashed cheek-bone &

smashed sinus . My last drink was 10th August 1986 . My Sobriety date is 11th August 1986 .

20th July 1988 I had a seizure at a meeting , saw my Dr , she thought it may be a tumor

forming , from the accident . Surprise!!! Surprise!!! The CAT scan revealed , the steel bar

had gone through my brain , almost coming out the top of my head . I had been Totally

mis-diagnosed after my accident . Th cat scan revealed I had suffered a Severe Brain injury .

After I was released from hospital on 17th March 86 . I had LED a Normal life . Ok Then .

From March to August , my drinking showed , that if I went More than a glass or 2 of wine with

dinner or after 2or3 cans of beer after work , I "paid the price" . I was a person who could drink .

To a person Who Should NOT drink . And . After my accident , I had Led a normal life . Do I

revert to a person with a Serious brain injury . NO . You folk had taught me to Live life on

Life's terms . You had Given Me a brand New life , not my old life , not my old life patched up .

This Was a New Life . High Priestess , I have heard over the years , people thought AA was the

pits , the last card in the deck . Even before my accident my life had been a mess . You see ,

I was not bought up . I was kicked in the guts & told to get up . You see if I went to meetings

daily for the next 50yrs . I could Never repay you folk for this New life & the Instructions You

folk have Freely given to me . Yes , I Still attend meetings Regularly , 2-3 meetings , maybe

4 a week . Just to say . Thank You.



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Rick.

@ 37 I was too young & good looking to be an alkie.

still too young , still got th good looks. still n alkie.

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