Posted by gilbert on December 5, 2001, at 22:26:48
In reply to Re: AA » Gracie2, posted by akc on December 4, 2001, at 8:30:49
Well AA has turned some on and others off. There are some mistatements about AA in some of the posts on the board and I try not to get pulled into them. I have been sober 16 years. I did 3 inpatient rehabs.....was doing about a fifth of vodka a day by the time I was in my twenties. Drank on antabuse twice....had a cocaine overdose.....etc. etc. etc. AA has saved my life but and here is the but...there are some crumby meetings everywhere....there are some good meetings. Some long time AA members seem to want to self appoint themselves as your personal life instructor...this is not AA, this is ego, AA if studied and read the traditions as well as the big book and other materials was intended to sober people up who choose that path. Now choice is a pretty harsh word most people corner themselves before wanting any help any ways. I think it is quite a vital organization with a tremendous spiritual component defined not by the group but by the individual.....It is unfortunate that people have such bad experiences at some meetings. It seems an attitude thing ...for instance if people were willing to try as many diffrent meetings as they are willing to try meds...they will find some good some bad. If I were to give up on all medication after my first 2 or 3 meds I never would have gotten well. It seems that people who get one bad meeting than characterize all of AA as such. The examples of unconditional love and willingness to help in my life have mostly been quiet unassuming elders in AA with a huge grasp on spiritual living and an ego shrunk so small it cannot get in the way of their loving you no matter what you say or do. These people generally speaking go above and beyond the call of duty for each other.....not uninvited or forced but genuine. I have had my problems with certain people in AA especially the know it alls....what I usually tell new people is that if someone tells you they have the answers turn and run as fast as you can......you have to find the answers for yourself with the support of the group not have the group define what you evolve into sober. That is between you and your God. Yes I dared to use the "G" word, or higher power if you choose or nothing so not to
exclude even the atheist. For me personaly my finding my God was due to AA not even my 43 years in and out of church has given me what AA has in that area of my life. It'sdefinitely not for everybody, I know some sober people who do not go to AA and simply choose not to drink. I just wasn't one of those people.Good Luck,
Gil
poster:gilbert
thread:14546
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011130/msgs/15019.html