‘How to find AA’ in England, Scotland and Wales, UK.

There’s a searchable database of meetings for England, Scotland and Wales.

And a complete list of AA events happening between now and April of next year.

Plus – the National Helpline Number:- 0845 76 97 555

Post from: Blisstree

AA In The UK

So many of you have not had the gift of knowing folks like Don H., Rob the Hat, Chiclets, Matt M., Irish Frank, Barney, Pat, and so, so many other long time oldtimers. They had passed it on to a wonderful, new group of people and it made for a recovery experience that I pray I’ll never forget.

Don H. used to drive a few people (including myself for a while) crazy when he’d say “AA has changed.” And, of course, he’d then share his experience about the differences in his time sober. Don was a direct descendent of the first 100 members. I believe when he passed a few years ago he had 53 years.

I came across something last night that I personally found right up my alley. Yo’ Joe at Recovery Times. Yes, these are always the opinion of one individual. In this case, I agree because of the folks that taught me for which I am grateful. On this page, there is a question relating to a topic at a meeting, a “bad” topic. From that, I’m led to the topic of this entry “Are You Co-Signing BS?”

I’ve seen it. I’ve done it, so I am not innocent. I’ve attempted to do it differently, have done it differently. I haven’t changed AA – LOL. Yet, I believe it is important to long-term recovery and a good life. Here’s what Joe said that I agree with;

“Strong members need to be heard in the rooms and when topics that have no basis in recovery are brought up need to steer the meeting towards recovery. Sitting passively by and letting a meeting drift while you know better is only signing off on that gross miscarriage of hate or anger.
In the opening of the meeting and in the readings that go before the meeting it’s always stated what the primary purpose is. That purpose needs to be fostered for the good of the group as well as the individual.

Please don’t sit quiet anymore. Be a loud voice and good member of recovery. No one needs to be a victim of someone else’s B.S.”

The Primary Purpose?

To stay sober and to help other other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

A Sober, Clean Day To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Are You Co-Signing BS?

Nobody has a patent on how recovery is supposed to work, or, there is no such thing as “cookie cutter” recovery. What works for the oldtimer who taught me might not work if he tried to teach you the same lesson or principle. Then again, it might but the point is we are all like snow flakes (yep, flaky ) just a bit different. As long as it works!

Aawoken has a dynamite post up today called “90 in 90.”

Brings back both memories and the realization that my experience was a bit different. My sponsor doesn’t believe in “90 in 90.” Not to say that it doesn’t work! But his feelings and experience are slightly different.

When I asked him about 90 in 90 he had a question for me (this is when I found out he’d been listening to what I’d been sharing in meetings). He asked “How often did you drink?” The answer was “almost every day.” He asked another – “For how long did you drink?” The answer was “about a few hours.” (Bottom line truth is I was consuming 3/4L of Wild Turkey 101 in less than 3 hours, could no longer get drunk, and it was pi**in’ me off!). Thank God for sponsors… Rick wasn’t impressed – his next comment was “Well then I guess you have the time to sit through a meeting for an hour and a half eh?” And – “Since you could find the time to drink almost every day, you can find the time to make a meeting almost every day.”

Put a fork in me, I was done…

Post from: Blisstree

Some Of Us Travel Different Paths

I’m not for two reasons. I once spoke at a beginners meeting in Patchogue, NY and during the feedback someone I knew angrily responded to something he had heard with a stinging question “Why do people who work the steps still go out and drink?” At that time I didn’t have the answer for him.

Shortly after, I came into possession of a tape on which a man described how he made possibly the best decision he could have made by talking to an oldtimer when he was in a mindset of quitting AA.

He said to the oldtimer that he’d been going to meetings for two and a half years, had been to over a 1000 and it just wasn’t working so he was ready to quit.

The oldtimer offered that man his opinion, based on experience, that there were two types of folks who came into recovery. The first was the one who just strolled in, got sober and did almost nothing to remain that way. Then he described the second, which he related to our friend was much like him, who, coming into AA had to work their a** off to get sober and stay sober.

He went on with an interesting story. He talked about taking a chair, putting it in a chicken coop for an hour a day for a thousand days. Then he asked if he thought you might change into a chicken had you done this. Of course the answer was no. To which he replied nothing changes if nothing changes. Recovery is about change. Change comes from “these are the steps we took.”

I have no doubt the principle can be applied to any addiction or disease.

A Sober, Clean Evening To All,

Mark

Post from: Blisstree

Meeting Makers Make It?