tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179396338033153826.post164522625742435758..comments2023-10-23T11:21:09.150-05:00Comments on Experience, Strength, and Hope: Alcoholism, Pain, Autumn Meetingsmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01700941649031924777noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179396338033153826.post-38565161941072132262010-10-16T17:41:45.854-05:002010-10-16T17:41:45.854-05:00"Keeping it fresh" is really important. ..."Keeping it fresh" is really important. For many of us, this is a lifetime gig. Yes, we can get lots out of meetings & going over the same few books a kajillion times, but we can also get a lot out of branching out.<br /><br />Around 11 yrs. I made what was then a revolutionary decision to expand my spiritual studies beyond 12 Step literature. I read books & explored paradigms from many different paths and found some that fit well. It really expanded my sense of Steps 3 & 11.<br /><br />Another way that I did that was to, around 15 yrs. clean, start going mostly to AA (before I'd been primarily NA). The literature, slogans, and people were similar but different. NA focused more on emotions and working the Steps repeatedly, AA focused more on basic social skills & spirituality. Both, of course, were in total concord (NA having plagiarized most of its message from AA in the 1st place). <br /><br />Adding richness -- keeping it fresh -- as the years and decades pass, it's a very good thing. I suspect it also helps slow or deter Old Timer's Disease (too many years, not enough days).Jayne Doughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08905811493542579887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179396338033153826.post-79558012709164736262010-10-10T12:12:39.117-05:002010-10-10T12:12:39.117-05:00I do jump to new meetings periodically. You never ...I do jump to new meetings periodically. You never know where you can find a new very fresh scared and hopeless person who desperately needs the message of recovery.<br /><br />Alcoholism by definition is a disease of body mind and spirit. Thank God they said, Outright mental defective, which gave me a very clear understanding that we do suffer from a mental as well as physical disease :) In fact I was to understand it was my main problem that whole mental illness thing!<br /><br />This is a powerful blog for me glad you wrote it!Jess Mistress of Mischiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14766848582303523764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179396338033153826.post-25947157272437455302010-10-10T10:27:22.896-05:002010-10-10T10:27:22.896-05:00I too like to go to different meetings. I generall...I too like to go to different meetings. I generallynhear something that helps me at each meeting I attend.Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642843245634635843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179396338033153826.post-25394931256419983612010-10-09T15:44:54.953-05:002010-10-09T15:44:54.953-05:00Thanks for the update. It's all about partici...Thanks for the update. It's all about participating in your own recovery. LOL<br />I go mostly to day meetings and you're right. There are different personalities to different groups.dAAvehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10378341182741173178noreply@blogger.com