Just found this site, I haven't been to a meeting yet. I'm scheduled to go tomorrow.
I thought it would be nice to interact with others going through the same thing, maybe need a little help when I'm not at a "meeting". I don't even know what a meeting will be like.
Anyhow, I'm here and any advice you can give would be grateful.
Welcome to MIP. It really is a super forum and there are lots of friendly and helpful people here. I do hope that you'll pop by often.
Please don't worry about going to a meeting. You'll find that there are some terrific people at meetings who have all been where you are and want to help you. I remember being very nervous about going to my first meeting, but I couldn't believe how great everyone was to me. I now have some true friends through AA.
Please keep posting and letting us know how things go 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
Welcome MS! You are beginning what could be the beginning of your real life. Sobriety, for me, has been a huge positive surprise!
Meetings are great, there are a lot of people among us with a lot of experience that can help. I found tons of similarities and friends in AA. Not all meetings are the same every day, so feel free to try on a few. Most of us still attend meetings very regularly, in order to keep our treasured sobriety, but also because we like them.
Best of luck to you. Come here often. If you hit rough spots, you will find others who can relate in AA.
Hello Sparks, glad you made it. Also glad to hear you'll be trying your first meeting. It's an exciting yet trying time. Tough though rewarding! I'm glad you're questioning your drinking & seem ready to try something else. My drinking completely deferred my life & now that I'm sober I've half a chance at getting it straight & in some kind of order. The most important thing is that I'm now investing in myself & not handing it over to alcohol on a regular basis. Really does give you a lot of space & freedom. I hope you enjoy your first meeting & are happy to try out a few more. Sobriety's an interesting place & you have it all to gain. Good luck in your journey. Really nice to meet you! Keep coming back & letting us know how things are with you, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Hello !!! And Welcome !! Im new to the site myself. I came here because I had hit bottom and was thinking really hard about doing something really stupid. The folks on here are MY KIND OF PEOPLE !!! They seem to really care about each other(and you). I had years of being sober, then I picked up the drink. Looking back, given the only 2 choises I thought I had at the moment, Im glad I drank insted of pulling the triger. AA can do wonders for those who want a new life, but after being sober 13 years, not ONE time did I see them raise the dead. Today, If I dont pick up I will have 13 days insted of 13 years. I can tell you this though, Im just as happy about those 13 days clean because I should be dead. Insted, I think Im back on the right path to a better life thanks to AA and folks on this web site. If you have reached your bottom and your ready to get out of the hole, your in the right place. As my buddy Joe say's , "you know youve hit botton when you throw down the shovel." AKA alcohol. You keep coming back. The hard part is over...admitting you need help. For me, that was a bitch. All my life, I never wanted help...I just wanted otheres to do it for me. In AA, YOU have to do the work, but the good news is that there is a world of recovering alcoholics willing to give you a boost when you need it. I know because Im one of the ones that reached out...and all of them started pushing for me. Your gonna be fine. That first meeting might seem odd, heck..you may or may not like it. Keep going anyway. Remember, your there to get a new life. It's there..waiting for you to grab it and go with it !! What do you have to loose...except your life if you dont try it. Please forgive any misspelled words. I may be sober today, but there are still some dead brain cells still floating around up there in that nutty head of mine, aso known as DEEP DARK SPACE !! Ron
I tried doing this myself, back in October 2006 I went 41 days. I fell off and fell hard. Lately I've been drinking more than I have ever in my life, and doing other stupid stuff.
I have been drinking pretty steady since about 1992 or so. I hope it's not to late to reverse health effects related to long term use. Otherwise I'm a pretty health conscience person. I ride bicycles regularly and am not overweight.
I'm excited about my first meeting, I'm naturally an outgoing type of person (I'm in sales) so I don't really feel scared, I feel more sad that I let this happen to myself more than anything.
Hi MS. Welcome to mip! We are a diverse group, for sure, but when all is said and done, I would do anything for anybody here, and I really trust that the same holds true for them.
When I came into the program I had cirrhosis so bad I wore maternity tops, I was yellow as a lemon, and had bleeding ulcers. My brain was so "wet" that people in the program held my hand as I learned how to do something as simple as go in and pay my power bill, seriously. Within a year my liver panels were clean, my ulcers healed, and a year after I went back to school and graduated with a 3.9, something I would never have believed I could do. Our bodies are a gift, and it's amazing what they're capable of withstanding and healing.
Let us know how your meeting goes, and do keep coming back. It truly does work. Welcome, Chris
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"Never argue with an idiot... They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience..."
Hi ms! Tim, alcoholic. You've found a great site to come to between meetings or any time of the day or night when you need some support and inspiration. You probably won't receive immediate responses but you'll always get them. A good thing to do is to check out the writings/readings on previous pages. You'll find posts that should apply to about any situation you're facing.
Sales huh? As in meeting people and doing some business over a couple? Alcoholism is easy to fall into but can be overcome. I've found it to be little more than having the desire and a constant vigil for the thoughts that will make you pick up again. And the thoughts about having a drink do get less frequent over time, but come nonetheless. That's why meetings and this site are necessary. It is a tough row to hoe alone as you've already found. Let us know how you are. Good fortune...Tim
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"We posess the eyes through which the universe gazes with wonder upon its own majesty."
I'm Michael, and I am an alcoholic. First meeting went as well as could be expected. I didn't think I was going to be as nervous as I was. I managed to get through the meeting and feel really good about it.
There are a lot of principles in there that I do agree with. I'm in sales and a lot of my motivational tapes and books teach the same stuff. Now I just need to apply that to me staying Sober.
I am thankful that I decided to go. Been sober since June 21st. I am going to another meeting tonight. I am going to try to make 90 in 90. Though it will be hard since I have my 2 week annual National Guard duty starting July 6th. Hopefully I can find some meetings where I am going.
I found that trying to do it on my own didn't work very well, so I've been doing it with the help of others for a few 24 hours now.
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguements and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
~Herbert Spencer
Hi Michael, You are among friends here so anyway we can help encourage or promote your journey of sobriety you will certainly find here. You don't have to be alcoholic either. I came here because of AH. I wanted to learn. AND that's what has happened. These are great people and they gently advice or encourage. Theirs has been some of the best wisdom found simply because they have experienced life through the heart and eyes of alcohol. You were courageous taking that first step and going to the meeting. Wishing you well and please come freely with anything on your mind. Respectfully, Wanda PS My son is in the Army Guard, Illinois.
Michael here, and I'm still an alcoholic. I'm getting used to saying that. When I said it yesterday I almost cried, today I'm feeling better about it.
Made my 3rd meeting (in 2 days) different group, and I really liked these guys. We had a great discussion and it went around the room. I'm definitely going back to this one, problem is it only meets 2 times a week. I guess that gives me something to look forward to. I will go to one of the others in the mean time.
I find this new found family a blessing and I am really taking all this in. I look forward to the day when I can give all the help that my group has given me in the last 2 days.
I'm still an alcoholic (and sober too day #6) But....
Wonderful challenges to my sobriety already.
Was going to grill out some chicken with a buddy of mine. I go out to get the grill started about 4:30 (that's my normal drinking time anyway) and WTF my grill is no where to be found. I'm serious it's not in the garage, not on the side of the house (where I normally grill) not in the back, no where.
So someone stole my weber charcoal grill, this is like an $89 one, nothing fancy but still why would you steal a man's grill?
I went to a meeting today (my 4th in 3 days) and my friend was coming over so I'm glad I wasn't alone and we just stood there dumbfounded. We last grilled on Friday when we had some pork chops. Still can't believe my grill is gone.
I guess they need it more than I do. Problem is right now I'm so short of cash I can't afford another one.
ONE DAY AT A TIME. It's 9:15 pm now, I'm getting ready for bed, I know I can make it til tomorrow. Start it out with the 1st step, then the next and so on, will make it.
(Anyone see them steal my grill, let me know. I'll hunt them down) You can steal my wife, you can steal my dog, but don't steal my grill!!!!)
I guess that's my "higher power" taking some pot shots at me.
Hey Sparksy, did it ever turn up?? So sorry, love. Your first experience of loss in sobriety? You'll get used to that. Loss is like a little achey void isn't it :( Especially for something as grand as your good old grill! I'm not jesting, I feel for you. I hope you get a better one or build another soon. (I am joking a little bit. I had a pair of Cat walking boots & they were muddy yet cleanable. I burned them as was having a clearout & they got swept up amongst it all. A little crazy oversight on my part. Only just getting over it & that was last summer) lol Sorry, love. I know losing something by my own hand & choice isn't quite the same as theft but you know what I mean! Felt like sharing ;) Nice to see you about. Can't help keeping it light, I've never had to lose someone I love to the end of life so this is all I can indulge in. I hope no one's offended.. Comes to us all eventually. Thanks for the post Sparks, I'm rambling now, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
