Heard At Meetings
Tue, 2012-11-20 12:26
#102
heard at meetings
I never had to have glasses on my but...cause hind sight is 20/20 Ilene M las Cruces NM
Sat, 2012-11-17 05:11
#103
Inventory
A woman accused me of taking her inventory when I asked her a simple question the other day...I'm too lazy to do my own inventory she's a nut case if she thinks I'm going to do hers!
Fri, 2012-11-09 17:02
#104
picking flowers
heard at a meeting recently, I used to live next to a cemetry so I got free flowers when I wanted.
John B. Everett, Wa.
Thu, 2012-11-01 12:41
#105
The missing link.
John said: "I was told to go to AA meetings and not take the first drink and I would get well. I have done that for the past 6 years. Here is how well I got! My wife is leaving me. My children (aged 31, 28 and 19) refuse to talk to me. My staff loathe me! Where am I going wrong?"
Simon his good friend said, "For 6 years you did not take the first drink, and attend meetings!"
John. " That is what I did."
Simon. "Here is where you went wrong in my opinion. Let me show you. There is a fruit cake here on the table. Suppose we drain all the alcohol out of it, what is left?"
John. "All that is left is the fruit cake!"
Simon. "For the past 6 years John you have drained, all the alcohol out of your system. That is excellent, well done. Do you see any link between you and the fruitcake?
John. "I did not bother with the programme of recovery. I see it now, thanks Simon!
Mon, 2012-10-22 16:43
#109
Thirteenth Step
For those who contemplate "Thirteen Stepping" Beware of the Fourteen Step.
Making amends for Step Thirteen.
Tue, 2012-10-09 08:39
#110
Love and Tolerance from a bleeding deacon
AA, at least as reflected in my local groups and Grapevine letters, seems to have abandoned this code. Cancelation of subcription because the GRAPEVINE publishes letter from gays and agnostics cannot be viewed as tolerant. Letters encouraging profane and obscene language as being required to welcome young people are ridiculous. I have seen the word Suggested included on the wall display of the 12 step in old movies of AA meeting. Being an old agnotic, my tolerance for intolerance has been reached. I wish AA well but I decline any further identification with what AA has become.
Fri, 2013-01-18 15:19
#111
Love and Tolerance
Before I stopped drinking I judged people and when I quit drinking I continued to do this. When I got SOBER I quit judging and placed the mirror in front of me. You know, I like what I see today!
Gayle F. Reno
Fri, 2012-11-16 15:53
#112
Can't understand
I'm sorry. Because of some grammatical issues in your letter I cannot tell whether or not you think AA is tolerant or intolerant, and exactly WHY you are canceling your subscription.
Thu, 2012-12-06 12:08
#113
AA has become intolerant and
AA has become intolerant and I am not canceling any subscription. I never had one in the first place. Is that clear enough? KMA
Fri, 2013-02-15 10:06
#114
Intolerance
Hello KMA,
Where I go to meetings (in a big city), the people in AA are becoming more rather than less tolerant of diversity. There are plenty of agnostics. And nobody cares about your sexual orientation, just that you're trying to stay sober. AA is strong and thriving in the city I live in.
I do think AA reflects the bitter and increasingly wide divisions within American society as a whole. It has to--it's part of society whether we like it or not. AA in your part of the country might be different (although I have gone to meetings in small conservative towns and been welcomed). Still, those people who write in to the Grapevine huffing and puffing and threatening to cancel their subscription are a tiny minority.
Wed, 2013-01-09 12:16
#115
Intolerant!
Tolerance is a habit I practice with the help of my Higher Power, when ever I feel tempted to be intolerant.
Fri, 2012-12-07 12:34
#116
KMA
Contempt prior to investigation is why Alcoholics
Anonymous has become such a failure. My head was jerked
from the sand about five years when I found that our
membership numbers were not increasing. If we are
truely helping other alcoholics our membership will
always grow. Grow or GO applies to Alcoholics Anonymous
as well as groups and the individual A.A. member.
Could you share exactly why and how the fellowship
has seemed to fail you. There are numerous reasons
why I refuse to renew my AA Grapevine Subscription.
The fact that it is awkward to open with the new
"perfect bound" structure is one reason. The fact
that the Grapevine, English and Spanish have drained
about two million dollars from our funds, concerns
me, all the while claiming to be self-supporting
by the sale of subscriptions. Only about 5% of our
membership subscribe to the Grapevine. It seems that
95% of the membership share your lack of interest.
Another concern is that our leaders seem to have transformed
"our" grapevine into an advertising tool for Alcoholics
Anonymous, bordering on sensational advertising. And
due to a decision by a past conference, the Grapevine
is automatically conference approved literature. Material
written by very few gets the same approval as that which
has gone through the General Service Conference process.
Being a conservative, I also dislike all the flashy
colors. Black and white would be fine with me, without
all the fancy art work.
My greatest concern is that we are using profit from
our Book and Literature business to support the whole
structure. We should not even have that profit available
to spend. We have a tradition of self support. Our
Trustee at our Fall assembly stated right out that we
are not self-supporting. Contributions from A.A. members
and Groups should be our only source of income. We are
supposed to be selling books and literature at the exact
cost of publishing and mailing. If we return to the goal
of full self-support, maybe our public image will improve.
You asked the question: What's on Your Mind? ANONYMOUS
Sun, 2012-10-07 18:16
#118
trusting sponsors
My sponsor talking to other people about my faults aa folk and general public, lost faith in aa
Wed, 2013-01-09 12:10
#119
Trusting Sponsors
If I listen to a member of AA disclosing to me what a sponsee had confided to him.
I would tell him the right time, if he asked me, and also the day of the week!!!
Sun, 2012-12-09 10:13
#120
trusting sponsor
potential sponsors should be observed before being chosen. talk to them if the are judgmental or loose lipped they might not be a good fit for you. as far as step work goes we only do three of them with a sponsor 1-2-3, ---5 is done with the person of our choosing 6-7-8 are done with our Higher power.
Fri, 2012-12-28 10:07
#121
RE: trusting sponsor.
And yet we have groups where a new person is assigned
a sponsor at his/her first meeting. Or told in the
meeeting format to get a sponsor right away. ANONYMOUS
Fri, 2012-12-28 10:03
#122
RE: trusting sponsor
The Big Book suggests that we take the third step
with an understanding person, but better to take it
alone than with someone who might understand.
The only step where another person is required is
Step Five. I believe that person ought to be a priest
or someone sworn to secrecy.
Anyone who can read and can follow the guidelines
in the BB and 12 &12 will be able to practice the twelve
steps. I would suggest a step meeting on a regular
basis to study the meaning of all the steps, and to
learn from others at all stages of recovery. ANONYMOUS
Sun, 2012-11-25 08:49
#123
Principles above
Principles above personalities, my friend; not easy but essential.
Thu, 2012-10-25 09:57
#124
Faith in AA
Hey, my friend.
AA is not about your sponsor. It's about YOUR recovery. The fact that your sponor gossiped only indicates that he has more work to do himself. I would recommend that you go to various meetings, listen closely for someone who sounds like they have what you want and then invite them to coffee where you can get to know each other before asking him to become your sponsor.
Mon, 2012-10-22 19:57
#125
Trusting a Sponsor
I'm on my 4th sponsor. My first one hired himself and I fired him within the first six months. I heard him share in open meetings things about his sponsees. He also shared allot about what he saw in others. Rarely did I hear him share ANY of his experience strength or hope. He has been sober for 3 decades but I still do not want too much of what he has. Follow your heart and be critical of potential sponsors. It is OKAY to fire some one and find another.
Fri, 2012-10-05 08:16
#128
barber shop
In regards to being around parties with no good reason, ive heard if you hang around
Sat, 2012-09-29 00:09
#129
Missing meeting Monday-Friday makes one weak (week).
Heard at a meeting and so TRUE!
Mon, 2012-10-29 19:04
#132
F.E.A.R.
I'm a newcomer. You has just said it right!!! This acronym has hit me to the core.
Thanks,
Nelson J.
Bronx,NY
Tue, 2012-09-25 11:08
#135
Eliminates?
"Faith eliminates anger and resentment." While I appreciate the acronyms used as a reminders in AA, I have personally never found any of them to be universally applicable or universally true. In the case of FEAR as presented here, I would personally substitute the word "enervate" for eliminate. I have yet to meet a person in or out of AA who has become complete master of his/her anger and resentments (or any other of their character defects, for that matter).
Enervate: 1) to lessen the vitality or strength of; 2) to reduce the mental or moral vigor of.
Thu, 2012-09-27 19:10
#136
enervate instead of eliminate
I had to look up enervate, but you are so right. In the dictionary I used to look up enervate, the meaning was to lessen the strength or vigor of; weaken in mind or body. Thank you for your suggestion. Maybe acronyms are "just reminders" for a lot us, but I happen to be one of the people they help.
Fri, 2012-09-21 14:21
#137
Anonymous SHARE
Speak Honestly about real events,emotions, experience.
Sat, 2012-09-15 12:06
#141
Action on the programme
Don's stare up the steps!
Step up the stairs!
Wed, 2012-09-12 14:03
#142
heard @ a meeting
there's no problem so bad that alcohol cant make it worse,
P.M.S- Poor Me Syndrome
T.H.I.N.K before you speak, is what you're going to say
Thoughtful? Helpful? Intelligent? Necessary? Kind?
Wed, 2012-09-12 14:02
#144
there's no problem so bad
there's no problem so bad that alcohol cant make it worse,
P.M.S- Poor Me Syndrome
T.H.I.N.K before you speak, is what you're going to say
Thoughtful? Helpful? Intelligent? Necessary? Kind?
Wed, 2012-09-05 11:22
#146
heard at meeting
If you take the alcohol away from the alcoholic, all thats left is the ic!
Sat, 2012-08-11 09:22
#148
This is good, I heard it recently from Ireland.
"...it is not what you see...it is what you think when you look!..."
Wed, 2012-08-01 21:05
#149
members
right time right place right age..i know a/a is the place i belong.as people are starting to get on my wick
Tue, 2012-07-24 04:32
#150
Things I heard in a meeting
Having a resentment is like wearing a dark suit and wetting your pants. Your the only one that knows.
My mouth fires before my brain is loaded