Member: Les
Location: San Diego
Remote Name: 198.81.26.103
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 11:15 AM -0500
It has been my experience that to live "happy, joyous, and free" all I need do is practice the Principles of AA, as best I can, in all my affairs. When I do this everything just seems to work out. I learned the Principles of AA by taking the Steps of AA. I took the Steps of AA following the directions in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, with the help of an AA member who had gone before me. I love AA and what it has done for me and pray that anyone that wants to change their life for the better will have as good a luck with the Program as I have had.How about discussing principles?
Member: AZbill
Location: azbill1172@cox.net
Remote Name: 68.226.19.154
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 11:42 AM -0500
Hi. Bill here, alcoholic from Arizona. Nice topic Les. All kinds of things went through my mind as I was reading your post. Then I thought about hope. I came into AA not even believing it would work. Nor did I believe treatment would, nor spin dries. I had tried them all and was still drinking. Now somewhere down the line, hope was associated with the 2nd Step. I don't know how that came about maybe someone can email me on it. I found hope in chapter five, "How It Works". It was there all the time and I missed it. It was pointed out to me to not be discouraged. That no one has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to this principles. So since I could not do this thing perfect then I might as well start. By the end of my first meeting I had gone through the first three steps. Started on my first Step Four the next day with the help of another alcoholic and have been sober ever since. That was a long time ago and we are both still sober today. Love you, Bill
Member: bryan
Location: southeast
Remote Name: 209.42.148.196
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 02:10 PM -0500
Hello everyone, I am Bryan and I am an alcoholic. I am from the southeast and I am having many problems from alcoholism. Any help is appreciated. I have been chatting on the coffee pot and now I am here finally. I have had several run ins with the law and legal problems. It seems that I mainly use for my cure of stress, anger, emotional and mainly to truly express myself. I am going to rehab and also aa meetings. I will probaqbly go to jail in the near future, but hopefully I will be on work release. If anyone has any advice on any of the above please respond. THANKS, Bryan S.
Member: THOMAS A
Location: SPOKANE, WA
Remote Name: 66.189.209.70
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 02:36 PM -0500
HI THOMAS ALCOCHOLIC. BRYAN I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. IVE BEEN TIED UP WITH THE LEAGAL SYSTEM SENSE MAY 2000, NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT COMES BACK AT ME.IVE ALWAYS BEEN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURTS, AND KEEP GETTING SHOW CAUSED I DON'T KNOW WHO IS WORSE, MY WIFE OR A LADY I MET WHEN I WAS DOING THROUGH MY LAST DEVORCE, A PERSON I USED TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO ABOUT MY ISSUES. THEY SEEM TO GO AT IT THE TWO WOMEN AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, SOMEONE CALL PROBATION THEN I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF. I WAS NEVER A BIG DRINKER, I GUESS I WAS MORE OF A SOCIAL DRINKER AND BY NOT EVEN HAVING A DRINK AND DOING MY AA'S HELPS ME.MY WIFE IS A ALCOHOLIC AND I TRY TO TALK TO HER, TO BAD SHE IS IN DENIAL AND ALWAYS LYING TO MAKE HERSELF SHINE. SO IN DOING MY AA'S I CAN UNDERSTAND HER BY HEARING OTHERS PROBLEMS, AND WHAT THEY DID. I AM NOT LIVING WITH HER NOW IT KEEPS ME SAFE, THATS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLES TO ME.
Member: Adam H.
Location: New York, NY
Remote Name: 64.232.156.194
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 04:04 PM -0500
Adam, alcoholic. I love the part of the Big Book that calls the 12 Steps "a design for living that really works." I agree wholeheartedly. When I compare the rules by which I govern my life and interact with those around me today to the way it was before I surrendered to the disease of alcoholism and later to the process of the 12 Steps, I can see the difference is as stark as night and day. In Bill's Story, Bill talks about how he could clearly see that Ebby Thatcher's roots had grasped new soil as a result of a simple spiritual idea and a plan of action. That's how I feel today...like my roots are grasping new soil thanks to accepting good orderly directions (12 of 'em) from a group of drunks who wrote that Big Book. Thanks for letting me share and thank you, Les, for the topic.
Member: david h
Location: nashville
Remote Name: 68.53.118.15
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 07:23 PM -0500
David H here alcoholic. Great fricken topic, The solution. I do just what was suggested. Worked the steps applied the priciples. prey every morning and night asking for the gift of sobriety. got involved and I picked up a 5 year chip Wed. This works if you work it.
Member: Georgie
Location: Field, Ontario
Remote Name: 69.60.227.138
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 07:55 PM -0500
Hi everyone. I'm Georgie and I'm an alcoholic. I'm from Northern ontario, and recently celebrated my 26 AA birthday. AA is a way of life for me, but this year has been tough for me. I've had a growth in my mouth that doctors don't seem to be able to remove. My dad died of cancer of the mouth two years ago. So this is a huge concern to me. Can we discuss dealing with anxiety and pressure using the Steps? I'd really appreciate it right now. Thanks, Georgie
Member: Robert
Location: College Station
Remote Name: 208.180.70.223
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 08:02 PM -0500
Bryan, I am in a similar situation as you. I have been through the prison system briefly in Texas for DWI. I got done with all of it and stayed sober on my own for a good while after this problem. I got another DWI and face more time now. It will be hung up in court for some time while I finish my degree at a university. I have been sober for 7 months now and find that going to AA and helping others as much as I can helps me greatly. I just try to do as many positives as I can in a day to stay well and sober. This program has tought me a lot and makes me feel much better. Although I am in as much trouble as I have ever been in, my relationships with my family are much better and my everyday life is better. Can't let it keep you down, I just try to stay focused and positive. It is up to my higher power as to what will happen to me, all I can do is my tasks at hand for today. I call my sponser, read some big book, pray, talk to alcoholics, and stay sober, everyday. It is working very well for me. Thanks for posting today guys, I really enjoy reading your thoughts and experiences.
Member: Robert
Location: College Station
Remote Name: 208.180.70.223
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 08:23 PM -0500
I'm Robert and I am an alcoholic, sorry about no introduction on my last post guys. I feel like family sickness, along with my own are best left up to step 3. I know that when this has happened to me I have put it in God's hands as I have my greatest illness, alcoholism. Another thought is step 9. When I have a relative or friend that is seriously ill I want to make sure I am square with them. I don't want to miss an opportunity for amends. I know that unresolved amends can haunt me, so I always make sure they get taken care of. Always remember, if they are with us or not, amends can still be made.
Member: Mav/Mark
Location: Albany, NY
Remote Name: 171.75.160.116
Date: 08 Feb 2004
Time: 09:19 PM -0500
Well, I know one thing for sure about principles; that since I have as a primary principle one of honesty, I can not in good conscience tell you that it is all about being "happy, joyous, and free." In fact, I personally avoid people who tell me it is about being that, but that's just me. The reality of the situation is that as I've been sober a goodly period of time and have been to literally thousands of AA meetings, it has shown me every bit as many, if not more, principles of how NOT to live. Pretending to be "happy, joyous, and free" is but one minor example. I'm by no means sad nor depressed, I just go along with the principle that humility involves seeing oneself as one truly is. I personally am neither always happy, nor always sad. I do however feel deep sadness when I hear people leading not only others astray with faulty realities, but maybe even more so for them specifically as I know they truly believe the nonsense they espouse. I think that stems from my most basic of all principles where other human beings are concerned, to care for them as I would like be cared for....
Member: Vernon P
Location: Illinois
Remote Name: 64.12.96.233
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 06:58 AM -0500
Hi my name is Vernon and I'm an alcoholic. "Happy, joyous, and free" Thanks for the subject. This is my sixth time into the program. In some ways I might not count each of the six since they were as few as one or just a few meetings. But it took every effort to bring me to today. The sixth was over five years ago. I hope it's the last "newcomer" entry I ever have to make. In one of those earlier efforts (10 yrs ago) they told me: "You're in for a ride." I remember resenting that. It was like they were telling me that something else - greater than I or outside of me - was going to take control. Well, the fact is that's what finally happened. After leaving that series of meetings, taking more drinks, getting into more trouble, alienating myself further from the world and from God, then finally "giving up", something else did take control. I finally allowed my higher power to take control of my life. The result: "happy, joyous, and free!"
Member: Kelly M
Location: NH
Remote Name: 64.222.180.26
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 10:25 AM -0500
Hi ((All)), I'm Kelly an alcoholic, Great topic Les! (((Vernon))), Great way to describe it!!! I too had to hit absolute bottom to be able to surrender which meant divorcing (my will) from every decision in my life. Only then could my higher power come in and guide me and give me the goodies, being Happy, Joyous and Free! God will not compete with my will or interfere with it. I used to hate some of the things AA said or I did not understand them like "You have to surrender to win". What the hell does that mean? I have to be weak and say I'm not strong enough to run my own life? I was hanging on for dear life to that little bit of stubborn perserverance that kept me here all these years and the fear of letting that go was incredible. Letting go was like letting go of the branch that I had been dangling from and falling into the abyss. The abyss was God and letting go and falling brought me just exactly what I was looking for, Peace. Man, it was hard and scary to let go though! The results are incredible. I used to be the opposite, miserable, irritable and discontent no matter how much I had. Now I am happy 99% of the time with little or nothing materially. God gives me everything I need. The 1 % of the time I am not happy is when I try and take my will back! From stubborn, defiant and willful to meek as a lamb, who would have thunk it? Sometimes you have to Surrender to Win, Kelly :)
Member: mcgrillius
Location: oz
Remote Name: 203.166.96.237
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 02:02 PM -0500
I can identify with bryan most definatley,mate i've been sober for almost three years and i am still going to court,not for new offences but basically undoing the train wreck of my past,but for the grace of god and the power of this program i have had amazing stuff happen to me,i wasnt supposed to have a drivers licence until 2014,i took the roads and traffic authority to court and the same judge that threw me in prison,granted my request...basically he said yep u been sober for 2 years of course u can have a drivers licence...AMAZING!!!!!my mother and i cried!!my fiance and i cried!!!it was a very beautiful moment,for something like that to happen to me,someone that really 2yrs previous was unloved,unwanted and completley F##*** bonkers!!!!!!good luck peoples,keep coming back!!!
Member: Rarely
Location: rontherocket@hotmail.com
Remote Name: 206.45.166.113
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 02:51 PM -0500
LES You say in your post " to live happy joyous and free " I learn the principles of A.A. by taking the steps of A.A." Now in the words of our Co-founder the bacis principles are the 12 steps and the 12 traditions of A.A. The way I understand your post is you want to talk about the 12 steps and 12 traditions. Unless you want to talk about the principles of service or the principles of recovery, We also have the traditional principles which are True brotherhood, Harmony, Love, Clear insight and Right practices. On page 219 A.A. Comes of Age Bill W. talks about the book (12x12) as being strickly a textbook which explains A.A.s 24 principles and of course those would be our basic principles. My wife is also a long time member of this program. and I must say you had us going for a while there. Love and Hugs Rarely
Member: King's Dragon
Location: Karmic Retribution
Remote Name: 205.188.209.140
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 05:24 PM -0500
hello? You guys have the answer, UP! yeah that's the way how to do it in life.
Member: Joe B.
Location: Charleston,W.V.
Remote Name: 205.188.209.140
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 05:24 PM -0500
Hi gang, its Joe and im an Alcoholic.Just back from down south and nice weather.Snow on the ground here and more expected.At least im sober enough to appreciate the seasons.I think we always had principals, but couldnt use them because of our addictions. Today I try to act principiled, and if my personality starts to get out of hand i use STEP 11 to bring it back into alignment.Most of thetime it worksand im a pretty decent man.
Member: Gabrielle P
Location: Northwest Ohio
Remote Name: 64.12.96.233
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 07:01 PM -0500
Gabrielle grateful recovering alcoholic.....I will try and comment in an educated manner....((Les)) the word Trandition literally means the handing down of beliefs, practices,customs, legends etc, from one generation to the next....so I feel that by practicing the Steps we learn the taditions of AA by applying these principals in all our affairs...that saved me when I first read it because it said that I just had to try....I had to measure any success like that in small portions to accept it to be possible that God could and would lead me in the right direction, and Chapte 5 states that there is no one who can mantain anything like perfect adherence to these the suggestions, that again allowed me the freedom to pursue a better way to live....The traditions for me was my sponsor showing me how to live life on life's terms as she had,get a job, earn money to support myself,be honest with myself and others, pay bills, save money, be kind, take pride in myself, be helpful to others, be assertive in what I want to achieve...because I had not learned those things...she passed down to me what she had learned and when I failed or didn't quite get it, she made it possible for me to keep trying, that was the traditional of empathy towards those who are learning new ways to live....interesting topic and very grateful for you giving it to us.... I cannot fail until I stop trying , In Sobriety, in AA, In Life Gabrielle
Member: Peggy E
Location: Salem, Oregon
Remote Name: 67.164.52.213
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 07:35 PM -0500
Hi! I'm Peggy I'm an alcoholic.(((Georgie))), hang in there. I am 26 years sober too. My sponsor was "Georgie". She's at the "meeting in the sky". Your situation would cause anyone anxiety. Here we don't have to drink over it. I will add you to my prayer list. Let God working through the fellowship shine for you at this time. The principles of the program are one for each step: 1,honesty - 2,hope - 3,faith - 4,courage - 5,integrity - 6,willingness - 7,humility - 8,brotherly love - 9,justice - 10,perserverence - 11,spiritual - 12,service. This is what I learned in AA. For Georgie to have "hope" she needs to do step 2, for "faith" step 3. This is my experience strength and hope for today
Member: Stacy
Location: West Coast
Remote Name: 67.124.76.164
Date: 09 Feb 2004
Time: 11:33 PM -0500
Hi all. Stacy, alcoholic. Great topic. In my years prior to coming into the program I had read and studied many a design for living. Some are really wonderful resources with a lot of great suggestions...but, I never was able to really take those suggestions and put them into action in my life. One of the reasons that I know that AA is God inspired is that I was able to read the BB of AA and the 12 steps and I was actually able to put them into action! Most books would affect me and then find their place on the shelf in my closet. This book was different. The simplicity of the 12 steps and the principles were such that I was completely able to comprehend and absorb them. I knew that I was an alcoholic when I responded that way to this program. It works for alcoholics who work it. I am and it's working. I feel like I just rambled. I'm tired. Glad to be sober. Blessings to all.
Member: mcgrillius
Location: oz
Remote Name: 203.166.96.234
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 06:40 AM -0500
hey everyone mcgrillius here alcoholic,addict,compulsive liar,obsessive person,addicted to everything,women,booze,drugs,sex and rock and roll!!!!!!!!!!Happy joyous and free very intresting topic..i know i am alot more happy,joyous and free today that i dont have to have that first drink...the terror,bewilderment and fear is gone(most of the time)and i have alot more choices today..if i wanna get in my car at 3 in the morning and drive,i can,if i wanna go up the coast for a few days for some time out...i can...the choices i had when i was drinking were very limited..drink to survive..survive to drink...misery had become my best friend..that was the elusive trap with my addictions,forever trying to recapture what it was first like...oh yeah..the euphoria..the bliss the ability to be whoever i wanted to be..like a puppy that tries to catch his tail...never succeeds..thank god i dont live like that today and havent for the last few years...i am a grateful sober alkie,,TO WHOEVER.....IF U STUMBLE ONTO THIS WEBSITE AND READ THIS AND IDENTIFY...GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK..AND GET TO MEETING....god bless bye
Member: Rob
Location: Indiana
Remote Name: 64.12.96.233
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 07:07 AM -0500
Good topic. As for myself I am not always happy, joyous and free, I don't really think anyone can be 100% of the time. There can not help but be some amount of sadness for there to be a good balance in life. My primary principle I live by is honesty, along with integrity, willingness and perserverence. Living by these principles as most important to me, I have a good life and am happy most of the time...as the road to recovery yields lifes success.
Member: DHR
Location: Heaven
Remote Name: 68.187.232.150
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 08:09 AM -0500
I am DHR and I am An alcoholic.I can relate to you Georgie. I too, have medical problems that produce anxiety and frustration. I seek through meditation and prayer,Step Eleven. Both my diseases want me dead. I have to make myself bigger than my diseases.Using the principles of AA.Fear is my number one tigger. "Let Go and Let God". Walking through with willingness and the grace of my higher power whom I choose to call God. Good Luck!
Member: mh
Location: uk
Remote Name: 195.93.34.12
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 09:38 AM -0500
Hello all......first time here,just got off a drinking binge 2 days ago.....not the first either. Been going on for more years than I care to remember. Each time it's over I feel overwhelming remorse over my irresponsible actions,and vow to myself it will never happen again, though on reflection now it is becoming more and more frequent. After a few days pass I then persuade myself that I'm not an alcoholic and that I purely just need to curb my drinking.I guess I become arrogant in some ways and if I can trust myself to be true for just one moment will willingly admit I do have a problem for sure. When I do go out to drink in reality I never trully can be sure of where I'll end up. This is why I've come across this site.....I want help but am almost scared to face the fact that it may well be something my head won't accept and that in a few days my actions will replicate what has just gone before. I have no knowledge of a lot of what is said a bout the book or the steps or the sponsers but now right now at this precise moment in time that if I do not help myself now that I will lose everything. Thankyou all for your comments.....I feel really stupid doing this but sincerely feel I must do something now.
Member: Kelly M
Location: NH
Remote Name: 64.223.172.8
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 10:36 AM -0500
((mh)), Your in the right place! So you have had enough and your way ain't working? You want to stop drinking but don't know how to stop? I have been there along with everyone else here. There are a great group of people on the (New Sobriety Board) here on this site that you can talk to if you want to. They have from a few days to many years and they all help eachother out. Please give it a try and keep coming back here. There is a solution! GodBless, Kelly :)
Member: Lisa H
Location: TX
Remote Name: 66.76.68.202
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 10:38 AM -0500
I'm Lisa an alcoholic...I really love this site, it gets me reading my BB and I pulled out and dusted off AA Comes of Age. MH, glad you found your way here, I believe that when I'm ready God will put a person, book or this web site in my life. I would suggest going to an AA meeting, grab someone thats been sober for awhile to talk to. The BB says that we have to quit fighting, until I could give up I could not stay sober. Living happy, joyous and free..hum...All I know is that my life is so much better sober and I am happy, joyous and free when I do what I was taught, pray, read, go to meetings, talk to my sponsor, help others and try to stay out of myself. The BB says we absolutely insist on enjoying life, it also states that we trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. I enjoy my trudging...Thanks for letting me share
Member: Nate W.
Location: Spokane, WA
Remote Name: 24.18.115.53
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 10:48 AM -0500
Nate, an alcoholic, joyous is a good subject, being joyous without drinking might have seem to be impossible to me, but I thought about me being joyous in whatever I did before alcohol, and just doing those things that I like, as for example fishing, and I am able to get out, that has brought more joy to my family than any drink. That is how I try to go about things in a manner like that. Thanks
Member: Craig L (Dogmanor@yahoo.com)
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Remote Name: 65.102.43.100
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 10:56 AM -0500
Craig L, another “real alcoholic” (page 21). Before I came to AA, I believed I was in control of my life and when things continued to turn to sh*t, I believed it was because of things out of my control. I lived in constant fear and anxiety about what was going to happen and what had happened or might have happened. In the rooms of AA, I learned to practice the 12 steps and as a result, I found a Peace I could not have imagined. There have been moments over the years when my serenity was disrupted by my fears (F)alse (E)vidence (A)ppearing (R)eal. Thanks to the 12 steps, today, I can face my fears and not try to run. When meditation and prayer does not return my serenity, I like the 12&12 book, it helps me see where I may have lagged on a step. Talking to others has also been a valuable tool to my recovery. Today, the faith I have found because of the steps, lets me have Peace in the midst of apparent turmoil.
Member: mh
Location: uk
Remote Name: 195.93.34.12
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 11:38 AM -0500
Lisa H.......Kelly M, thankyou for your responses...I hope to spend more time on this site because I feel you guys must know exactly what I'm talking about although I can't quite explain it myself.....Love to you all.
Member: DianeN
Location: Guatemala City
Remote Name: 200.12.61.231
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 06:49 PM -0500
Hi everyone. I'm Diane and I'm an alcoholic. First time on this website today and let me tell you how badly I needed to come to it. Reading everyone's comments makes me want to practice principles in all my affairs and to be strong in my program. I've been drifting away from mine, justifying it b/c I haven't been able to find a good meeting here nor one alcoholic woman. But, I moved nere 6 mo.s ago and it's way passed time to try something new. I'm starting by being honest...and I'll work from there. Thanks for being there. Diane.
Member: Ruby B
Location: In the mountains
Remote Name: 67.51.231.185
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 07:36 PM -0500
((Diane and MH))) WELCOME!!! Glad your both are here and as you will see this group will keep edging you in the right direction just by their mere presence. I came to this site 9 days ago and cannot think of being without it today. Everyone is here for the same reason. We are not in control of our drinking and need the support of AA and each other to keep that fresh in our minds. Please come here and read over all the post the minute the urge to drink gets strong. It will remind you that your not alone and keep you away from that drink until the urge passes. If not, sit down and type and keep typing until you figure out why you really want that fdrink. We'll all be glad to read your words because they keep us all in reality. I guess i should just speak for myself so it will keep me real. I need all the help I can get. Thank you all for sharing and I will stay sober this minute and then the next and leave my future in Gods hands. love and hugs to all, Ruby
Member: Tom A.
Location: Carlisle, AR
Remote Name: 66.112.36.183
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 09:12 PM -0500
Good Evening Tom A., here a grateful sober alcoholic today by the grace of a wonderful Higher Power and this fellowship we call A.A. Havn't looked or posted on this site for quite some time. Glad to see they that they have come up with a way to control some of the stuff that showed up from time to time. I am an old timer sobriety date July 25, 1960 and have been involved with the computer online stuff since 1997 and Stay Cyber was one of the first online groups I was involved with and then I was introduced to the Happy Joyous and Free online email group where we discuss a topic each week and then got involved with some local A.A.'s and we call ourselves the RagTags and we just share about whats going on in our daily lives. I know I haven't mentioned anything about the topic of PRINCIPLES and there our many, but there are three that have been a part of my journey in sobriety and they "HONESTY - OPENMINDEDNESS - WILLINGNESS" (The How Principles) and for me they have been they guiding principles in dealing with the Step, Traditions, Concepts. Sure glad to be back I really like the sign in idea. Love and prayers from an alky who cares. God Bless - Tom A. cte50203@centurytel.net
Member: Barb Mc
Location: PA
Remote Name: 68.236.28.206
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 09:25 PM -0500
Good evening all. Barbara, alcoholic. I would first like to address this to MH. You are not alone. Most of those posting to this site have been in almost the same place you are right now. I never felt as stupid as I did when I walked into my first AA meeting. I knew I could no longer drink and live. It was strongly recommended that I go to AA meetings. I called the number in the phone book and was told where a meeting was near me. Later a woman called and said she would meet me there. I arrived 5 minutes before the meeting started and left as soon as it was over. Some where during that meeting I found a glimmer of hope. It brought me back night after night. Then I got a sponsor (all these terms will be explained to you if you get to a meeting)and started to work with her. It took me almost three years to accept all of the 12 steps and finally start doing what the Big Book says and "practice the principles in all our affairs". Using the steps of AA has given me a measure of peace and serenity that I have never known before. Because of this I am happy. I rejoice in the fact that the God of my understanding has blessed me with a life that I never knew I could have. And I am free of the obsession with alcohol. Like a lot of people I have some medical problems and there are some stressful things in my life but nothing my God and I can't handle. All without the need to pick up a drink. So to MH and all those who are new to soberity, hang in there. Don't leave before the miracle happens. You are worth it. Hugs to all.
Member: Fred N.
Location: Mexico Beach Fl.
Remote Name: 12.158.105.158
Date: 10 Feb 2004
Time: 10:27 PM -0500
Hi, just found you through a local member. Thanks for being here for me. Fred
Member: Tom M
Location: Homosassa, FL
Remote Name: 65.34.0.166
Date: 11 Feb 2004
Time: 06:46 PM -0500
Hi, Tom M here. The princibles of A.A., good topic, however because there are many I will just say one thing. What I like to remember is that A.A. is about princibles and not personalities. Many of us tend to forget this as we become more and more active in a group. When this happends it can tear a group up. Sometimes beyound repair. So it is important that we always put princibles ahead personalities.Thanks for the opertunity to share
Member: Laur H.
Location: Aurora, IL
Remote Name: 206.148.80.115
Date: 12 Feb 2004
Time: 12:46 AM -0500
Laur here. I just recently admitted to myself that I am an alcoholic. Is there anyone else out there who is sitting in front of their monitor reading these wonderful sharings with a beer in their hand? I want to be clean. I am a good person basically. I help a lot of people in my job as a special ed teacher teaching emotional/behavior disorder kids at a middle school. I try to be a good mom. Just became legal guardian of my second daughter. Have 2 adolescent daughters now. Seems like never a moment to myself. Never enough time in my day, nor energy to use to get myself to a meeting. I fall asleep when I try to meditate or pray. Just admitted to myself within the last couple of weeks that I am an alcoholic. Met with a new therapist about a week ago. She suggested AA. Called the local number and found out about meeting times. Honestly was unable to fit them into my schedule... not trying to make excuses, but couldn't get to them. I'm a single Mom. I tell myself that next week will be better and I honestly believe it. I will try to go to a meeting next week. Therapist also told me to consider detox. What a blow. Never thought I would come to this. I'm not a bad person. I do only good things for people and believe in God. I just don't listen to Him as often as I should. I believe so much that He has helped me in my life after my divorce. He has provided for me. I am near a supportive family. Why do I feel so overwhelmed? Close to a breakdown. Seems like since I admitted to myself that I am an alcoholic, I seem to want to drink more. Drink after my daughters go to bed. Can't wake up early enough in the morning. This morning I missed an important 7:15 am meeting. Just can't seem to get it all together. I feel so disorganized. I admit that I have I have a problem. I believe that God can help me. My favorite prayer is "Let Go Let God." I am spiritual. I just don't have or make time to listen to His answers. YOUR ADVICE IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO ME RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. Love to all of you out there who know what this is all about and understand. I pray that your words will help me as I try to help myself. GOD'S BLESSINGS ON EACH OF YOUR LIVES.
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.135
Date: 15 Feb 2004
Time: 07:46 PM -0500
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Member: Robert
Location: College Station
Remote Name: 208.180.70.223
Date: 15 Feb 2004
Time: 08:07 PM -0500
Robert, Alcoholic. Laur, I am glad you are seeking help through A.A. We come from all different walks of life but share one common thread. The people at A.A. meetings are all GOOD people. There are preachers, doctors, professors, teachers, etc, we come from ALL walks of life. I want to tell you that I really like this site and find it very helpful, but only one of many tools for sobriety. I know when I was new in the program that I could not have made it without going to meetings and meeting other alcoholics in my community. I felt that a great number of meetings at first was neccessary for sobriety. Finding a sponser to hold me accountable was necessary. Sometimes we have to switch some priorities around to get sober. Sobriety is my number one priority being that without it I really have nothing else. Making some meetings is very important, they are only an hour long, they can be found at just about any time during the day. I, too, am very busy and find my time at the local noon meeting and eat my lunch while I attend. I found time to drink and to avoid responsibility when I was drunk, the responsibilities I face to stay sober are much less demanding. I hope the best for you and glad you came here for help. There are many people in A.A. who are willing to help you, that is how this program works. Best of Luck!
Member: Dot C
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Remote Name: 66.32.79.22
Date: 15 Feb 2004
Time: 08:14 PM -0500
Awesome topic. I don't know why but God is always present when I see something I need to see, read something I need to read, or hear what I need to hear to get me out of my stuff and move on. I am about to lock heads with my parents on a custody case with my daughter (16), who didn't inherit my disease (YET), but whom they called the cops on to quell an argument. Of course, HIGH and MIGHTY ME was going to get on her white-ass stallion to rescue then I realized what I would be doing in the long run--PRINCIPLES BEFORE PERSONALITIES--make a bad situation worse. Of course, MOI being so PERFECT was going to screw it up and God whispered--"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD"--and the confusion of the last few days have passed. Thanks--great topic.
Member: maverick
Location: remote
Remote Name: 12.76.141.155
Date: 15 Feb 2004
Time: 11:40 PM -0500
Robert you are out of your mind and very vulnerable to problems if you truly believe that nonsense about "all people in AA are GOOD." You've gotta be kidding me, right? Dude, you need to get a grip as most of them are anything but "good," and it isn't "helping" to tell new people that craziness. I know you're new too, so just relax dude, relax. However, you better be wary of who you trust in AA as it full of vipers and snakes and many are even more devious as they aren't drunk 24hrs./day anymore. Just be wary, that's all I'm saying and I've been around AA a long time and have not only made that very same mistake myself, I have seen more hurt even worse than I by doing it. Caution my man, caution...
Member: DHR
Location: Heaven
Remote Name: 68.187.232.150
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 07:37 AM -0500
Laur, You have come to the right place. The help and support you need is but a phone call away. Meetings are hard to get to by yourself. I wonder if your therapist could hook you up with another woman in AA?? Call the toll free #, They can be helpful in finding some one to Help. I too, am a special Ed person and was a single mom. I can relate. AA is a we program not an I program. I get drunk. We stay sober.The obsession to drink did not leave me for a long time but through AA I have a life second to none. You have taken the first step.You are powerless over alcohol.Your soberity comes first. The rest will fall in to place.You have a disease. It's ok. There is help and support waiting for you!! Just take that first step. It will save your life!!
Member: Mike J.
Location: Pennsylvania
Remote Name: 129.120.160.6
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 07:38 AM -0500
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Member: Glen H
Location: Tx
Remote Name: 129.120.160.6
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 07:42 AM -0500
testing
Member: Cecil H.
Location: Prestonsburg, KY
Remote Name: 12.162.181.111
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:26 AM -0500
Hi I'm Cecil H. an alcoholic. I would like to encourage newcomers to attend a face to face meeting, though these cyber meetings help as well. I've read in the literature that we always judged ourselves by our intentions, while the world judged us by our actions. I certainly wasn't a very nice person when I got her, but as I was very spiritually sick you loved me til I could love myself. God and AA HAVE to me my first priorities as this disease will kill me otherwise. As I understand it, the promises are a byproduct of working at these steps. Certainly, the quality of my sobriety is in direct proportion to how much work I put into AA and spiritual principles. In my 4th step (inventory), I listed principles such as "What comes round goes round" because basically in life I was a bull in a china shop. Spiritual principles have enabled me to regain control of a life which was badly out of control (That and putting the plug in the jug!). Another commonplace expression of principle is "Go with the flow". For me, God's will is a great current which I can either fight or swim with. If I fight my Higher Power my disease will kill me. The "ABC's of AA" are "A. That I'm alcoholic and cannot manage my life", B. "That probably no human power can relieve my alcoholism." and "C. That God could and would if He were sought." The Steps (for me) are about getting right with God and my fellow man (and woman). Another commonplace AA(?) saying which has helped me, (and there are so many!), is "You can't think your way to better living, you have to live your way to better thinking." My head gets in the way (frequently). I get better as a result of ACTION not thought (although prayer helps tremendously). Thanks
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:31 AM -0500
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Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:35 AM -0500
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Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:42 AM -0500
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:42 AM -0500
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:44 AM -0500
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Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:47 AM -0500
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Member: Tim G.
Location: PA
Remote Name: 24.238.76.33
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 09:09 AM -0500
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Member: Tim G.
Location: PA
Remote Name: 24.238.76.33
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 09:10 AM -0500
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Member: Tim G.
Location: PA
Remote Name: 24.238.76.33
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 09:12 AM -0500
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Member: Tim G.
Location: PA
Remote Name: 65.120.69.44
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 10:17 AM -0500
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Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 10:33 AM -0500
Hot coffee...
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 10:47 AM -0500
hello test
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 10:56 AM -0500
worx now????
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 10:57 AM -0500
hello there everyone
Member: SC Tech
Location: x
Remote Name: 66.223.56.120
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 11:11 AM -0500
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Member: Tim G.
Location: PA
Remote Name: 65.120.69.44
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 11:17 AM -0500
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Member: Dot C
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Remote Name: 66.32.79.22
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 01:49 PM -0500
Hi Laur--Once again, butt first, mind behind. I am sorry that you are having such difficulty but your heart and mind are in the right place and you are at what we practiced AA'ers call the "turning point," where we couldn't drink any more and we couldn't stay dry any more under our own steam. Don't kick yourself too hard for not being able to get to a lot of meetings as of yet--but remember--if you put as much effort into your sobriety as you ever did into your drinking, you'll be an AWWEWSOMMME sober person. You sound a lot like I did, and I have a sobriety date of Octber 26, 1995--by the grace of God, the love of a bunch of drucks, and practicing the principles of AA. Just keep your head up, and do what you can. God bless.
Member: AndyD
Location: Detroit
Remote Name: 68.41.155.151
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 03:12 PM -0500
Hey all, I'm new to the board, but I can see that it will be nice to get a new perspective from all of you who have said many interesting things on this topic. That said, here I go....I think that the priciples of "live happy, joyous, and free" are a very good way to live through alcoholism, but I also agree with Mav/Mark in that you need to be honest with yourself. Lying to yourself about being happy when you know you just want to drink isn't buying you any real happiness. In reality, I've found that when faced with a choice on alcohol, you must first choose to be free, then happiness and joy will follow. I've only been dealing with A.A. for a while, so I may be making it sound easy summing it up like that, but I know that using this simple philosophy has made my decision to stop drinking mush easier to cope with. -Andy
Member: Rarely
Location: rontherocket@hotmail.com
Remote Name: 206.45.166.174
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 05:47 PM -0500
We need a new topic
Member: Angie d.o.s. 11/16/02
Location: Costa Mesa California
Remote Name: 4.21.203.3
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 06:27 PM -0500
Happy Joyous and Free .... When i am not focusing on arranging life to meet my expectations ... when i can live in acceptance .... I seem to be alot more happy joyus and free.....
Member: Peggy E
Location: Salem, Oregon
Remote Name: 67.164.52.213
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Time: 08:06 PM -0500
There is a God! I am so glad to be able to get on board again. Thank you for fixing the mechanical problem here. This is my favorite meeting between meetings. Laur, welcome to the group. Try to get to a meeting near you and see what you think. In time you will want to ask a woman for the winners = the ones who really want to be sober and work a program. Best of luck to you! You will become happy, joyous and free... I'm Peggy. I'm an alcoholic.
Member: Vernon P
Location: Illinois
Remote Name: 152.163.253.70
Date: 17 Feb 2004
Time: 06:41 AM -0500
Hi, my name is Vernon and I'm an alcoholic. I'm not sure what the topic is. "Principles" I think. That makes me think of the north star. I once used the north star after several hours of drinking to help me find the right gravel road after wandering around the countryside. It is always there, and I suppose always will be. Sometimes it appears to be to the right or the left, up or down from where I think it should be. But it is always pointing me in exactly the same direction. If there is a disagreement between me and the north star, somehow I am always the one at fault. As a recovering alcoholic I need principles. They can line up my path. The number one principle I need is also the number one step of our program. "Vernon ought not to drink": that's my principle to live by. With that at my side, the other principles fall into place. They are the ones that take the "horse thief" out of me. And thank God, our sacred text the Big Book provides me with those principles.