I like coming here and reading what you people post...the good, bad and the ugly. It feels like a meeting to me, I get to share your experience, strength and home and if I feel like sharing I can...seems pretty meetingish to me.
So does this count? Can I consider this a meeting?
No, this doesn't count as an AA meeting. It's a good place to be and it enhances the quality of my sobriety, but it doesn't take the place of face-to-face meetings. I need to see people who have been where I was and to see how they are now. I can't stay sober without it.
If you can't see how going to meetings can help you, why not try going to a few. You have nothing to loose and everything to gain. Don't you owe that to yourself?
Take care,
Carol
__________________
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss
My opinion, I much rather get a few meetings in person, sure this helps. but the satisfaction of meetings in person is a great feeling as well. I agree with the response that u have recieved from others here sounds pretty much reality. Sometimes we don't want to hear it, but its what we need.
Take care now Hope you get to more meetings!!! sounds like u need to get out to more to really experience the program to the fullest.
If you don't go to meeting how are you going to find a Sponsor to take you through the 12 steps? The 12 Steps are the Heart and Soul of AA, The Fellowship/Meetings are where we share our ESH make new sober friends and find a new way of life. The 12 Steps give us the tools to deal with the world as a whole and that inter space between our ears.
__________________
Work like you don't need the money
Love like you've never been hurt, and
dance like no one is watching.
Hi Bob, how's it going in Sunny Cal? After reading the posts this afternoon, I was talking to my husband about how I felt when I had just sobered up.(or thought I felt, LOL). I was so freakin' confused, I had no idea how to stay sober, no idea how to deal with the world, period. I would have died, because I don't believe I could have learned on my own. This forum wasnt here two decades ago, the only people I knew were the ones I'd partied with from the time I was fifteen, I wasn't involved with any church and had no concept of spirituality---no, there's no way I would have made it. I had to learn how to live in a whole new plane, and the only way was to watch others that were making it. I did wait a bit for a sponsor, and picked one that was a real butt-kicker. She's still my sponsor today, although she's down there in Paradise, CA. Jeez, I was so brain damaged by then, I needed someone to hold my hand and lead me through everything. I had to surround myself with other sober alcoholics. I didn't want to be dry, I wanted what they had, which was real sobriety. I have known people that sobered up without AA or the steps. Many thru spiritual choices, and then those that just dont drink and do nothing but bitch. Myself, I need both the steps and a spiritual focused life. The fellowship is where I really "got it" tho. I know good people, tho, that stay sober on their own, but I couldnt do it without some sort of support, myself. I'm pretty much a hermit in all other areas of my life, but I do need those steps and my sponsor and others like me to keep on keepin' on....
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Sounds like you people all have a case of Knowitallitis...I hope it isn't contagious
I thought - I could get and stay sober on my own. I was wrong
I know - I need AA and the 12 steps to have any chance of another 24 hours of sobriety.
I need - to work the program of AA, otherwise, I will get drunk again and there's no guarantee I'll make it back.
Knowitallitis - nah! However, I have learned quite a bit about myself, scary shit, but well worth it......I will never stop learning....I look forward to it.... I pray you'll catch it
-- Edited by Doll at 20:29, 2007-05-03
__________________
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
When I can't get to a meeting, I come here and other places online. It is a friendly (usually) and comfortable place. I get a lot of experience, strength, and hope here. It may not be a "meeting", but it sure makes me feel better. That should count for something. Mike
I'm sorry if it all seems a bit too much but if your going to ask a question.....
I can't tell you what you want to hear because i really don't know what that is my response is my response based on my experience and of course my opinion will be in there some where and you have no control over that.
tipsy,, I remember when you first came to this board. This post of yours sounds like a lot of those first posts. Stinking thinking ends up drinking. The poster is right that 'half measures availed us nothing'. Now I see more of why your next post describes how cranky you got. You about to go around the revolving door one more time? Are you about to go out for a little more 'research'?
amanda
__________________
do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
Interesting.... you say you like it here, this seems like a meeting to you... then you call us "know it alls". No wonder you dont think youd like meetings. You know what? Your not the least bit serious about getting sober. Everything from your Nic to your Avitar says so... I bet if you were five minutes from death... if you knew the true dark side of insanity... if you spent an hour in a world full of complete and utter godlesness... in other words, if your face was in the jaws, and you were yanked back out and saved... you wouldnt take all this as such a big friggin joke. But thats OK... I guess everyone needs to see their little corner of hell on earth. I know I did. So you go on. I stay sober watching folks like you. Theres lots of them at meetings. And that my friend is ONE reason I go.... Cause when they are finnaly ready, some one sober needs to be there to lend help. You said your mind was open, so here it is. ... If you only have ONE day sober, some one else at a meeting that doesnt think they can get through the next twenty four hours... might find a spark of hope seeing you. Would you deny a fellow drunk that... and let them die? Best way to stay sober ... help someone else stay sober. Are you doing that here?
__________________
My warranty on tomorrow has run out. My guarantee on the past is void. Nothing is going my way... and I like it like that.
Interesting.... you say you like it here, this seems like a meeting to you... then you call us "know it alls". No wonder you dont think youd like meetings. You know what? Your not the least bit serious about getting sober. Everything from your Nic to your Avitar says so... I bet if you were five minutes from death... if you knew the true dark side of insanity... if you spent an hour in a world full of complete and utter godlesness... in other words, if your face was in the jaws, and you were yanked back out and saved... you wouldnt take all this as such a big friggin joke. But thats OK... I guess everyone needs to see their little corner of hell on earth. I know I did. So you go on. I stay sober watching folks like you. Theres lots of them at meetings. And that my friend is ONE reason I go.... Cause when they are finnaly ready, some one sober needs to be there to lend help. You said your mind was open, so here it is. ... If you only have ONE day sober, some one else at a meeting that doesnt think they can get through the next twenty four hours... might find a spark of hope seeing you. Would you deny a fellow drunk that... and let them die? Best way to stay sober ... help someone else stay sober. Are you doing that here?
You know if you would have said just the last part without all the judgemental stuff about my avatar and my user name and without damning me to the gutter due to my lack of sincerity your reply would have not only been a lot more polite and dignified but it would have actually been far more meaningful