Am new to this site and sorry that I mentioned my smoking probem, Didn't understand that any thing not related to drinking and drinking problems were off limits for discussion, the facts I am raising grandkids, and trying to better myself in any way I can is not important. I am a whole person and yes I have a drinking problem but that is not my whole life so guess that it is best that I go my own way and try to find help else where, Have never been to a AA meeting and if this is how the mind set is of the people are there probably will not be going to any. I am able to function quite welll with my beer drinking, sounds like some people here are completly out of control with their drinking, maybe I need to get that far gone before I am a canidate for AA.
Not to cause any problems but don't feel this site is for me.
Perry
will check back for any feed back on this message but just don't feel right here
You have never said anything that was not appropriate. Promise, Please do not leave us, there were some that just mentioned the singleness of Purpose, and i think it went haywire.
Our singleness of purpose here is to share with anyone trying to quit drinking, and you can say whatever it is you need to say. Simple, open and honest, that how we try to keep this board.
So stick around, Hope you did not take that personally, think you did, and I am so sorry that was not the intention of that person, i am sure.
You mentioned the smoking. and I too am trying to quit... It is so important for me to try to get through a lot more than just alcohol to live a good long healthy life. I inquired and commented about my struggle with this. I think someone just did not want our focus on smoking to override what a newcomer might be searching for if they came to this site to get sober.
I don't know why it was not asked of you or myself in a PRIVATE MESSAGE instead of in an embarrassing public-kind-of-way, but I am looking into it.
The point is, we all make mistakes, even the people running this forum, from time to time. I don't believe anyone was trying to 'shut you down'. I have been told time and time again also, that nothing was inappropriate, as long as it wasn't negative toward another individual, or lude in language.
Please do not leave us. Your experience with what you are doing in your life right now is marvelous, and worthy to be shared. Not everyone on this site, either, is a 'hopeless under-the-bridge-type' drunk. We are all here because we have one thing in common:
"We drank too much, too often, and for too long, and it was too hard to quit alone."
Please consider staying, and put whatever was said about the smoking stuff aside... if you feel your experience with quitting that can help us and yourself with licking alcohol too (as they go together so much), you are more than welcome to share it.. I would find it highly valuable, Perry.
I am truly sorry for the kind of impression you got here from the start. Please give this a chance.
One more thing to mention, is that AA is a very loving, accepting and honest program. Please don't let your feelings about this stuff here stop you from trying a face-to-face AA meeting.
Sorry you feel the way you do. All I can suggest is to stick around a bit to see the overwhelming good things this board offers for support with the drinking. I talk abut everything on here that I am dealing with at the present moment. A.A. is not about running people off, it's about finding a solution to problems we experience in day to day living. I wish you the best whatever decision you make. Take care, okay?
I hope that any of my messages were not a contributor to how you feel about this board. I deeply regret if they have. I also hope you will give this board another chance.
I'm sure you will make a personal choice without people begging you to stay or go. It is up to you and your spirit if you decide whether you will ever attend an AA meeting or not. I am very new to this site and attended an on-line meeting on Saturday. There is absolutely nothing that anyone has said that has deterred me from this site.
I find it unfair that you might take one comment so very personally and decided that AA will never be for you. As it is suggested in the steps, a person is willing to go through any lengths to get what sober people have. Not verbatim, but the point is made. Do you think that maybe you just are not ready to admit that you have a problem with alcohol????
I do understand that we all have many sides to each of us. And I too quit smoking 6 months ago after 25 years. We all have similar aspects and as AA says "....share experience, strength, and hope..."
My sponsor suggested to me to get to meetings, stick around, and listen when I first started. And at that time, I knew I had a problem. We are all at various places in our journey. A good question to ask is where you are at in your own journey. The question is do you think you need AA? I sincerely hope you do give yourself an opportunity to see what people have to offer by sharing their experience, strength and hope.
Hope to see you here more often. Take good Care. Jo
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I granted myself the gift of sobriety and found my spirit.
I'm so truly sorry that you feel as you do about this board. All that I can say is that I have found it to be a wonderful place to visit to help with my sobriety. There really are some truly wonderful, caring and very supportive people here on this board. Personally, I cannot praise the site highly enough.
Perry, please try sticking around for a little while yet. You really are very welcome and I am sure that nobody meant to offend you in any way. We're really not a bad bunch of people. And, nor are any of the people that I have met at my AA meetings.
Whatever you decide, please take the very greatest care of yourself, won't you?
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 have realized these past few days that I cannot stop smoking 'on my own' any more than I could put down any other habit. I checked out the site you posted, quitnet.com and a very friendly lady helped me find out what to expect the first few days. It was a big help. I have registered with a local hospital's Smoking Cessation Program starting August 31st. Wish me luck!! I am also going to bring my medical doctor into the fold; he knows I've been wanting to quit. He says there are now inhalers and other things to help too, if the patch is not for me.
