That's a picture of my new curtain rod and sheers in one bedroom (my office). The linen drapes are on back order and I should get them by the middle of this week. Today I am packing up the many books in bookcases in my living room and dining room so that it will be easy to move the furniture out when I get my new floors installed next week. I am so excited about these improvements I am making to my home. I went to the 6:30 meeting this morning. Once again the tone was weird - lots of complaining about ex-wives, bosses, etc. I looked around the room and realized that the ratio of new folks to longer term sober folks is pretty high. Traditionally that group has been mostly people with lots of years of sobriety, with a few newcomers sprinkled in. They were well-supported, sponsored, and mentored. I think the group is so overrun with newcomers right now that they are not getting the full attention the group would normally give them. I have faith that this will balance back out. And that it will be kind of weird until that happens.
I have lots of work to do today. Very exciting happy work to do. What a blessing it is to live a sober life.
8 comments:
This morning my sponsor and I looked at our large group, noting changes on several levels. "Relapse" (hate that word!) rate is growing, tone of meetings is changing.
I believe that--this is aweful to even think--A.A. itself is changing, interpretation of the steps is loosening. That's why we decided the Traditions are SO important--that they do not change even a comma.
Sounds like y'all long-timers have some work to do.
Thanks for your blog, Christine. I have been looking around the net for something like this, and it was great to find it. Don't give up blogging! There is always someone out there who needs to read you. I am glad I stumbled across this for sure - it made me glad I'd started. :)
My version of home improvements is installing toilet paper holders which I did today after 3+ years of living in my home.
I just finished writing an email and I could have ended with your last sentence about the blessing of living a sober life. It is such an unbelieveable gift. Thank you for passing it along to this newcomer.
Weird is OK. Especially sober weird.
Our group has been going through that somewhat too. It is a curious feeling when I realize that I sound like those "hardliners" and oldtimers that were there when I came in.Thank God...they were my glue. J.
it is pretty freaky when the dynamics of the "comfy old home group" change. I know my home group has thinned out considerably and could quite possibly be dying.
I hear this a lot from long time AA members. Lots of newcomers who know everything and haven't worked a step. I hate to think that AA would change. It makes it even more important that you and others who honestly work the program are around to help keep others honest too.
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