Member: Willliam.A
Location: High-Point.
Date: 1/28/01
Time: 9:43:00 PM

Comments

Hello,William.Alkie.

How can I be sure that I have the next person that enters the doors of A/A has the same changce of recovery that I had when I came to A/A,maybe by giving the same message that was delivered to me when I steped threw the doors ten years ago and made the decision to stick ,I actually came to A/A in the year (1982) only to drink again,once I was left to my self and in the first time I need some recovery to stand on I had non and so I drink,even though people tried to show me it was a better way.

I can be of service to another today pro- viding that I return what was so freely givin to me.to carry A/A,s message to the next sick/suffring,that can be a great thing .


Member: AnilG
Location: Mt Vernon,Illinois
Date: 1/28/01
Time: 11:29:27 PM

Comments

I am so thnkful to AA that today I am alive because of what AA showed me "the 12 steps" and kept my spirituality alive and showed me a new directions in life. AA which has been kept same what it was years ago by these traditions needs to be kept the same for this we should be proud. One thing that is least is to kept unity amoungst us. So that this tradition could continue for years to come.


Member: Rhionda K.
Location: Derry, N.H.
Date: 1/28/01
Time: 11:31:55 PM

Comments

Hello I'm Rhonda and an alcoholic. AA to me must be from a power greater than ourselves. How else could you explain how and why it has worked the same for 65 yrs and worked perfectly thru out the years. With a few exceptions one could think that the Big Book was written in recent years. Also in reading the postings on the discussion site, I can see how were all the same even thou we're all over the world. Alcoholics wanting to get better and help others to do the same.


Member: Jenn P.
Location: Poconos, PA
Date: 1/28/01
Time: 11:39:06 PM

Comments

I think Tradition one is so important. It is said that we all hang together or we hang seperatly. I want AA to be here for those yet to come. Unity for me means showing up, being part of, and keeping principles before personalities. I need a group, I can't do this alone. My Higher Power speakes to me through everyone in my group, not just the ones I like. Keeping the message of the steps and how they can change my life. I love AA and hope it continues to save lives the way it saved mine. Thank you God for AA, and Thank you AA for my relationship with a Higher Power.


Member: Doug
Location: Baja, Mexico
Date: 1/29/01
Time: 12:34:21 AM

Comments

HI, Doug, alcoholic. Like that hang together or hang by ourselves. I could never get the kind of loyalty to my drunkeness out of my drinking friends that I get out of my sober AA friends. I can walk into almost any bar in the world and be left alone and ignored, but try to get in or out of an AA room without being greeted warmly and offered a true hand of friendship, the kind one survivor gives another, knowing that he could never row the lifeboat to shore alone. Tradition one reminds me that I must be a functioning part of the group, and that I must go to meetings, and I must participate; not for my benefit alone, but for your benefit and that of my fellow survivors, and thereby my own.


Member: (((((((((())))))))
Location:
Date: 1/29/01
Time: 2:12:02 PM

Comments

lu-lu where are you?


Member: ARDIS
Location: CAN'T STAND LU LU
Date: 1/29/01
Time: 2:50:54 PM

Comments

LU LU WHERE EVER YOU ARE STAY THERE!! ARDIS


Member: Adam H.
Location: Nagano, JAPAN
Date: 1/29/01
Time: 6:32:45 PM

Comments

Adam, alcoholic.

I once heard a speaker say "I can't stay sober, but WE can." I agree. I can't tell you how many times I have been in a meeting and heard someone coming back from drinking again after a few years of sobriety say, "Well, the first thing that happened is I stopped going to meetings." Every time I hear that I'm reminded that even though I've been sober for quite a few twenty-four hours, I still need AA. I need to stay with this group if I want to stay sober. And in turn, I need to stay close to and contribute my share to Alcoholics Anonymous--whether it be by simply attending meetings and sharing or through some sort of service commitment--so that the group can keep carrying it's message. My sobriety depends on me staying with you, and you staying with me.

I love this fellowship and I'm grateful to be a sober member!


Member: ChuckM
Location: Alberta
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 1:29:40 AM

Comments

I'm Chuck, an alcoholic

I heard of the AA program, found in the Big Book, by going to a meeting.

For future members we must maintain the groups. If groups follow the traditions then AA will continue to live.

To get sober I had to go to meetings, to get sobriety I had to do the steps.

Peace and serenity


Member: Jack B
Location: Palo Alto, Pa
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 2:48:16 AM

Comments

Hi I am Jack a real alcoholic.Tradition one to mean is singleness of purpose.Once we get away from that we jeopardize not only ourselves, but our home groups.My sobriety depends upon the group.The group depends on me, when my selfish ambitions and desires gets in the way, I can damage the group.Thanks for allowing me to share and God Bless.


Member: lu-lu
Location:
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 11:15:28 AM

Comments

oh ardis,

you know you want it.

lu-lu


Member: sr ignatia
Location:
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 12:35:46 PM

Comments

you boys stop that,give me back those coins.

sister ignatia


Member: Anonymous
Location:
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 3:33:07 PM

Comments

There is a lot of talk in and around AA about unity. "It's a we program they say" and many people go so far as to say that AA is their higher power?! But are not all the traditions based upon the meeting places? And these traditions, are they not the glue that holds AA together from one meeting place to another, that they all be thinking the same way? As I scan down the traditions and read each one with the thought in mind that it is from one meeting place to another, that these are spoken of, it becomes very clear that this is what is meant to be the reason for all twelve of them, that is, that their be some unity between this meeting place and that; But to make my point even somuch the clearer: does not the first tradition hint that recovery is a personal one? It says: Our Personal Recovery does it not? Yea, our recovery is a personal one, but this tradition has gotten out of context to the point that everyone now seeks to hold hands one with another instead of putting their hand in the hand of the man that stills the water. Read the twelve traditions again with this in mind and you will agree that this unity bonds one meeting place to another, not one member to another, divided we stand, together we fall in this case, for God is a God of indivuals first to last and will have us to him self and not give place to another, As long as we make AA our source of security we can not be said to have let go, but to have held on, we could not be said to have abandened, but rather adopted, or have desired to become adopted and that to the program and its members rather than unto God. Its a vain hope to hope in the members of AA to take you in in the day of trouble. Its where we are coming from, these worldly securities, not where we are going to....


Member: Sandy B.
Location: cool colorful Colorado
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 3:37:59 PM

Comments

Great posts, thanks! Like Jenn P., I can thank God for AA and thank AA for the God of my understanding. One time I was in a meeting on Step Three and repeated what someone else had said about having a God "who understands ME, because I certainly don't understand God!" This old timer ripped into me a few minutes later, stressing that the wording of the step was the wording of the step and some of it was even italicized so that made it even more crucial. After the meeting I went to talk to him (I am not a masochist, but figured I had something to learn) & he said (among other things :) I should look up "understanding" in the dictionary. I did that and found the root means "to stand under or among."

I guess my point is, like Jenn P. also wrote, I can learn from everyone in AA and I am willing to because I trust what AAs say in meetings (more than what "ordinary" people say) and even AAs who don't like one another help one another stay sober.

Have a great day!


Member: Anonymous
Location:
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 4:13:54 PM

Comments

Tell me, If I cannot get sober without the understanding I get from the first 164 pages of the big book, in that same way then, how can I expect to turn my will and life over to the care of God without the first 164 pages of the bible? It doesnt make sense does it, to in one place need the book if not in the other. When we read step three then, "as we understood him" simply means that we have decided to turn our wills and lives over to God even now, or before, (as some would have us to have:) a course in theology before they would acknowledge us. Or again, who, in such a case as step one indicates wants to wait so long as to learn everything and all about God before making a decision? "as we understood him" simply means: we dont know everything, not that we dont need or want to know everything and we ought to want to, if we are at all to progress in the faith which comes by hearing and that hearing that only cometh by the word of God....


Member: LU_LU
Location:
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 5:34:52 PM

Comments

oh (((((ardis)))))))) you idiot, the topic is unity.... stick your resentment up your ass. i'm sure nobody really cares how you feel about me, what an asshole.keep coming back,you fool.and don't forget to pray for me,and don't forget to write,better call your sponsor too, you sound very very very very very very SICK, AND STUPID....P.S. i was probably here when you got here and i'll definately be here when you're gone. b'bye


Member: A.A.
Location: member
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 6:20:21 PM

Comments

LU LU, I hope the day never comes that you really need A.A. because you will have to use your real name and have to tell the truth, worst of all you'll have to put up with idiots,jerks and losers like you!!!!


Member: AH HA HA , LU-LU
Location: who are you?
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 8:53:27 PM

Comments

fuck-you, DEAR..... a.k.a. "good little a.a."


Member: AH HA HA , LU-LU
Location: who are you?
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 8:57:35 PM

Comments

fuck-you, DEAR..... a.k.a. "good little a.a."


Member: Donna
Location: St. Louis
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 10:19:31 PM

Comments

All I can say is that I am glad I am not a newcomer with the last few postings. It would be really hard to believe anyone here cared about anyone! I think some comments are best left to self. Without Tradition 1 there would have been no AA on-line because it would have disbanned years ago. And the first word of the first step is "we"! My relationship with God is one-on-one but he certainly talks to me through people which makes it "we". If I decide what God's will is for myself, it usually doesnt turn out to good. Somehow when I get out of myself and listen (we) have a better idea of what God's will is for my life. God does bless groups of people as well as individually. I believe He has blessed all at AA.


Member: (((((((((((((())))))))))))))
Location:
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 10:31:11 PM

Comments

you tell 'em lu-lu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tee-he-he


Member: Michael B.
Location: AZ
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 10:34:58 PM

Comments

Hi, my name is Michael, and I am a recovering alcoholic and addict, sober today only by the Grace of God and the Fellowship. Welcome newcomers! Thanks to those who genuinely shared!

For many of us, this can be a difficult concept to internalize. Like some other cultures, ours is one which teaches us from an early age that individual rights are clearly more important than the rights of the community. This belief has a long history and is reflected in the traditional emphasis in literature and life on the "hero" figure.

Thus, according to this Tradition, we must come to believe that individual rights/welfare is very important but is still secondary to the welfare of the larger community or AA as a whole.

I believe Tradition One is one of God's primary concepts for trying to maintain unity in AA, and as mentioned earlier, we need AA to stay sober. I know that if I could have stayed sober on my own, I would have, because I tried real hard to for many years.


Member: Jack B.
Location: Westland, Mi.
Date: 1/30/01
Time: 11:10:38 PM

Comments

I'm an alcoholic and my name is Jack. As Michael B.and others have stated, I to tried to stay sober without AA and it didn't work. We do need AA for without it those of us and countless others will be lost. Sobriety is the greatest gift I have ever been given and ofcouse that was only through AA. We must guard it's traditons closely and never deviate from our primary purpous and that is to stay sober and help others to acchieve sobriety.


Member: Carla
Location: Huntington beach
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 12:12:41 AM

Comments

I feel that everyone has done good by admitting the fact that they have an alcohol problem. What I dont understand is, If there's suposed to be fellowship......how come some people sound so damn rude to each other....sounds like some people definitely have some anger issues..Take care guys.....and keep sober.


Member: Carla
Location: Huntington beach
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 12:13:02 AM

Comments

I feel that everyone has done good by admitting the fact that they have an alcohol problem. What I dont understand is, If there's suposed to be fellowship......how come some people sound so damn rude to each other....sounds like some people definitely have some anger issues..Take care guys.....and keep sober.


Member: A MINORITY
Location: IN A.A. to DAY
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 12:05:20 PM

Comments

Dear, DONNA & CARLA There are some A.A.s ,but as you will soon find out there are also some real jerks here. THE people thet want to stay sober usually are polite to each other.People that are living the programe of AA , AND WHO HAVE RECOVERED will not endulge their sickness by such behavior,usually.HOWEVER some are sicker than others .We who do enjoy our recovery ,and have some sence of decent behavior often pray for thos less fortunate than ourselfs.[BB PG. 67,This is a sick man.How can I BE HELPFUL TO HIM?


Member: LU-LU  IS my name
Location: guess what my mother calls me... LU-LU!!!!
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 1:43:25 PM

Comments

"a minority in a.a." oh,would'ent want anyone to know your name, then we would all know exactly who's being a "BAD LIL' a.a."how 'bout you check out pg. 66/67 in the 12&12,"who does'ent like to feel a little superior to the next fellow,or even quite a lot superior...."in a perverse way we can actually take satisfaction from the fact that many people annoy us...."we are not trying to help those we criticize: we are trying to proclaim OUR OWN RIGHTEOISNESS..."go to a real meeting you geek sounds like its time.


Member: ((()))all play and no work
Location: ---------------------)........
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 3:25:43 PM

Comments

tee-he-he..........you tell 'em lu-lu!!!!!!!


Member: dorthy
Location: oz
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 5:40:51 PM

Comments

lions,and tigers and bears.......oh my....... .......lions and tigers and bears .......oh my


Member: DESPERATO
Location:
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 9:30:08 PM

Comments

HERE ON GILLIGANS ISLAND


Member: why
Location:
Date: 1/31/01
Time: 11:03:15 PM

Comments

ground hogs.............wild and wooley........ ..............ground hogs.........why do they call them ground hogs?lets call them dirt pigs.


Member: deans
Location: bro
Date: 2/1/01
Time: 12:11:10 AM

Comments

well lulu looser u allready admitted u r a dope smoking little slutt with homo tendencys and that u have sex with u self an the kat u helped kill dean w ur sik krap at the most u dont deserve 2 b how dare u take a shot at the minority opinion u use the 12 x12 as a tool 2 take shots if the 12 concepts bit u on the ass u wouldnt know what it was not 2 mention the 6 warrentees u dumb slut why dont u try a real mtg and if u want recovery get a sponsor do the steps or die mf u chump u aint even a drunk b gone puke


Member: DOE D.
Location: TUCSON, AZ
Date: 2/1/01
Time: 12:22:13 AM

Comments

REMEMBER THAT WE ALL SHARE THE COMMON PERIL THAT WERE SICK PEOPLE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM A SEEM INGLY HOPELESS STATE OF MIND AND BODY. I'M AN ALCOHOLIC AND I NEED A LOT OF HELP. THAT'S WHY THE FIRST TRADITION IS SO IMPORTANT IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR COMMON WELFARE WHERE WOULD ANY OF US BE OUT THERE....


Member: Christine
Location: MA
Date: 2/1/01
Time: 8:43:36 AM

Comments

Sometimes the AA classroom is the only safe place a person has ever been in. It might be the only place that they can act out on their fears and learn the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in a supportive environment with caring people around them. While we help newcomers, we must maintain our own boundaries to protect ourselves. If you have a poor sense of what you might personally allow, follow every suggestion you might hear from people with good sobriety. Don't forget to talk with your sponser if you might get one of your gut feelings. Love and peace,


Member: ha-ha-rah-rah-ha-ha
Location:
Date: 2/1/01
Time: 12:01:09 PM

Comments

deans bro,

you swallow dont you?

tee-he-he-ha-ha-ha


Member: lois
Location:
Date: 2/1/01
Time: 12:03:33 PM

Comments

deans bro,

who taught you how to spell? you moron.