What Did You Learn After Going To A Aa Meeting?

It's not equally bad equally that photograph, merely waiting until day l earlier my first AA coming together wasn't smart.

My alibi is solid, living in a Haitian ghetto etc, but I nevertheless wish I could have come here sooner. Everyone who kept saying, "Get to a meeting" was 100% right.

So this is me… about to walk into my county Token Club.

I got a fresh haircut just in case I met some cute 13th steppers : )

There was one major drawback, the smoke nearly killed me. I was light-headed and slightly nauseous by the time we finished. I'm hoping I tin build up a tolerance, or perchance I'll but take up smoking myself. I even so found a way to concentrate and here are a few things I learned from the feel.

1. AA is a safe identify for smart ass jokes. Just the pre-meeting pocket-size talk had me laughing out loud. Humor collection out my anxiety and I felt at home. I was like a long-lost friend and they'd been waiting for me.

2. There was no judgment. When they asked newcomers to introduce themselves, I didn't exactly know the lingo. "I'k Tony and this is my outset AA meeting? Did I do that correct?" I kind lady suggested that I could identify if I was an alcoholic. I replied honestly, "Oh yep, I'm a raging alcoholic." Her response was total acceptance.

Then honey, you're in the right place. Keep coming back.

3. I have to exercise the work, information technology'south more than "let get & allow God." I actually liked how one guy expressed it.

God has never come down and knocked a drink out of my hand and he never will. I'm sitting here today because I don't want to take the commencement drink. I practise this for me. And I'm the only one that can continue me sober. I have a host of friends working the programme and they assist me. But I got to do the work.

4. I demand a daily strategy. I've been repeating "i day at a time" like a sacred mantra, just I could benefit from a daily action program. Ane of my new friends recommended 5 elementary things he does everyday. Hither was his "proceed it simple stupid" prescription.

In the morning, pray that God would keep me sober
Call my sponsor, everyday.
Phone call my AA friends until I get three voices.
Get my ass to a meeting.
Pray again at dark, thanking God for keeping me sober.

five. It's OK to simply exist OK. One man shared about the importance of just fitting in, learning to be a friend among friends. The heed of an alcoholic is always trying to be in a higher place everyone else, with just one drink we imagine we're the top of the heap. When we sober upwards we experience less than, like we're the lowest. Working the our recovery means learning to belong, learning to be OK.

vi. Helping others is key to my sobriety. That'southward the twelfth step, but it's something nosotros can beginning right away. I can exist getting phone numbers and reaching out to others correct now. That connection is essential for my sobriety and benefits the person I'm calling.

7. Nosotros help all-time when we acknowledge we're screwed up. We never should pretend we've got it all figured out. Information technology means existence honest, we help people most when nosotros acknowledge we're not doing right. We can demonstrate that recovery is about progress, not perfection. That's the best encouragement for others.

8. The 8th step is already freaking me out. "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make apology to them all." Just when they read that out loud I almost cried. My guilt inventory is overstocked for sure.

9. I can exist brave when it matters. I was nervous about the whole experience, literally bitter my nails waiting for the thing to get started. That's when I made the choice to speak upward. I didn't come up this far to be a wallflower. I made eye contact, spoke clearly, even shared during the discussion time.

10. Having a sponsor is not optional. I took the photo above from the meeting room message board. Information technology's on me to fight my addiction, merely I demand a coach to assist me prepare.

Alcoholism: I'm sponsoring myself.

11. The 12 steps are the foundation to it all. Every time someone shared, they would reference or point to the steps every bit the key to their recovery. One guy put it this way:

It's not no shit I only made up. Information technology's all in in that location. The steps have the solution to how to live.

12. The fellowship of these meeting is something I actually need. I've fabricated a practiced 50 mean solar day outset mostly on my own, to move frontwards and keep sober I know I need to get committed to these groups. This is what I've been missing.

I almost forgot, they gave me my first AA chips. I already love the audio of them in my pocket.

I'd love to hear your experience. If you lot're an AA newcomer or an old-timer. Get out a comment below to share your thoughts.

Tony is the founder and editor of Daily Recovery Club. He is a widely respected authority (in his own mind).

This blog is non professional or medical communication, rather a support customs for others suffering from alcoholism. Nosotros are all experts on failure, starting over, and trying to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Find him on Twitter @soberTony