Aloha, Well, I did it. I went to a meeting tonight. It was an all woman's meeting and on the small side. It was an amazing experience! Thank you ladies and gentlemen for helping me get there! It was a step and discussion meeting and because I was new, they decided to focuse on step one--what a gift. Listening to everyone talk . . . hearing their stories . . . it just felt right . . . I was supposed to be there--no question about it. Afterward they gave me a big book and a list of meetings with their time and places. One woman noted a few that she thought I'd like. I was going to wait again until next Thursday, but I'm thinking about going to another one before then and meeting some more people. I definitely feel blessed this group of ladies was my first group. WOW! I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm an alcoholic. I said that and my name to group of people I didn't no and they let me tear up and were supportive but no overly so. I didn't feel like a freak! And they were all so beautiful and normal looking. You guys, I totally went to an AA meeting. The journey has begun . . . To quote some wise and wonderful people here . . . Love in recovery, Laura P.S. I'll tell you all right now that Laura isn't my real name. If we were to all meet in person I would tell you my real name but I love being able to be completely honest here and unlike conversations in a meeting anyone can see our conversations here and unlike discussions in a meeting these are recorded and kept . . . I really wanted to be honest with you all about that and explain why I'm choosing to stick with the alias. Hey, guess what. I went to a meeting tonight and it was wonderful!
I'm so glad you posted! I've been checking the board all evening (as you can tell from my earlier post), not knowing what time zone you were in so not knowing when to expect your post. I am so glad it went so well, Laura, so glad. What a blessing it is to watch you. Oh, and the journey has just begun....big hug, Chris
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Awesome Laura! I'm glad it went well, definitely try out some more meetings between now and next thursday, when I first moved up here and found out meetings here don't meet every night... you go to a different meeting every night here, well, I had a couple I went to and didn't really want to try out other meetings... but... now have a meeting for every night of the week, except mondays, I dunno, just haven't gotten to a meeting on mondays yet... but it's great, meeting so many different people, and I see some of the same people at different meetings. Actually, there's 3 meetings that I like so much, that I haven't been able to decide between them for picking my homegroup! lol
I'm so glad that you went to your first meeting. I had been wondering how it would go for you.
I remember going to my first meeting and I was amazed that all of these normal and happy people were alcoholics. It gave me so much hope for the future and for my recovery. I just remember feeling that I was 'safe' and at 'home' with all of the people that I met. I still have those feelings today.
I do hope that you'll try some other meetings, too. Please keep posting and letting us know how it goes for you, won't you?
Take care,
Carol
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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
I am so glad that you made it and had a good experience! I go to several different meetings - each has its own unique flavor. I find this blend particularly useful. Anyway, it sounds like you are on your way!
Oh, and BTW - Zster isn't my given name, either - in the name of internet safety I refrain from putting my true name out there (combine the unique spelling with a google search... well, you get the picture), BUT, I AM an alcoholic, and darned grateful for AA!
I am sooo happy you made it and enjoyed it! Did you get phone numbers? Try another meeting before next Thursday... just to get an idea of whats out there. Glad you went and that you're happy!
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"Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer but wish you didn't"
That's awesome! I'm glad to hear it was such a great experience for you; I'd like to echo the comment about trying other meetings, they are all different in their own way and all have something a little different to offer
Welcome to your journey Laura & where you've been already. You've wanted this from Day1 & have been finding your feet. I'm really glad for you. It's not always going to be easy, the work's hard but the wages are good :) You have so much to look forward to & it can be very confusing at times but that just means you're about to learn something! I hope you can learn to love sobriety & through that love your life. There's pain ahead but with tears of joy. You'll find the depths & fears inside yourself & learn to accept them. It's true when they say drinking is a symptom. Our default as alcoholics is to escape that which we can't deal with by drinking but we learn to live life on life's terms & to stop tormenting ourselves with such fantasies like living in other people's heads. I've got a long way to go but I opened up in a meeting tonight regarding my worst most trivial insecurities & splayed it all out for all to see. I haven't really done that before as I didn't want to be rejected. It's when I express my most rawest & embarressing self that I find myself a little bit more acceptable to me. I hope you get all that you need little by little. Go Sister! Danielle x
-- Edited by Sobrietyspell at 18:49, 2007-05-11
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
congrats I'm happy you wnet and glad you had a good time and yes don't wait til next week i'm 48 days sober and i've been to almost that many meetings good luck
Bryan ps Bryan is my real name
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Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Romans 8:6 , The Message
Thank you, thank you, thank you all for your support, wisdom, kindness, nonjudgemental, and supportive posts before I went to the meeting and now. It's funny--I was on such a natural high after going to the meeting and then, later, when I crawled into bed and reached for my novel I looked over at the big book and thought 'Oh, yeah . . . this thing takes work' and picked it up as if it were homework. I enjoyed reading the pamphlets when I first got home but it's good to remember that I'm going to have create discipline to consistently work at it even when I don't want to. I need to keep ontop of this thing--make sure I read daily and work at step number one to begin with--to avoid slipping into dry-drunkdom. Moon, these ladies and guys here really help me out by inspiring me with every post about meetings that they shared. I was petrified that it would be different for me, but it wasn't--the group full of love and warmth and knowledge and honesty. Oh, and nearly everyone in the group wrote their phone number in The Big Book they gave me :). I didn't know that until I got home and opened it up and I nearly started to cry again. They all did this as a group. They are all there for me. It inspires me to work on my recovery and do the same for others! Sigh--this has been a very good week. Laura
I went to a meeting tonight. It was an all woman's meeting and on the small side. It was an amazing experience! Thank you ladies and gentlemen for helping me get there! It was a step and discussion meeting and because I was new, they decided to focuse on step one--what a gift. Listening to everyone talk . . . hearing their stories . . . it just felt right . . . I was supposed to be there--no question about it. Afterward they gave me a big book and a list of meetings with their time and places. One woman noted a few that she thought I'd like. I was going to wait again until next Thursday, but I'm thinking about going to another one before then and meeting some more people. I definitely feel blessed this group of ladies was my first group. 
