Uh, guys? Tonight I've had to face the truth that I'm a stone Alchy, and if I don't stop drinking,

[Redstone]

I'll probably die soon.

AA is not the answer for me, because of all that Higher Power stuff.

The fight starts tomorrow. Wish me luck.


Redstone

[dsc]

1. Your higher power can be literally anything

I hope you give AA a chance but even if you don't, I hope you find your way. I am an off and on attender of AA meetings with lately my going back. Good luck you both need and deserve it.

[Redstone]

2. Thank you. My higher power might be the Earth and the wind, because I'm

half Indian. I hope they can help me.

Redstone

[dsc]

3. that is perfectly great

AA meetings all have different characters to them and it takes time to find the ones that fit you best. I tend to go to small groups when I can and gay groups when I can. You may, depending upon your region, be able to find groups that are largely Native American if that is what you want.

[conscious evolution]

11. Native American spiritual paths

can be used in AA.Check out the Red Road meetings.
Actually,pretty much any spiritual path can be followed.There is no monopoly of god consciousness in AA.

[KitchenWitch]

4. Redstone, I am a pagan, and have found a way for AA to work for me.

I have a lot of friends who are atheists and agnostics who are also in AA.

Welcome to our group. I hope you find help here and in real life.

[NMDemDist2]

5. my first higher power was an invisible 6 foot tall white rabbit

then a valley oak tree

worked for me

one day at a time, an hour at a time, a minute at a time, just don't pick up the first drink.

keep us posted :hug:

[Kajsa]

6. Redstone, the first step is admitting you have

a problem with drinking- It's a big one and
you've done that!

We have people from all walks of life in AA,
people of faith, agnostics, atheists, everyone
is welcome.

Your higher power is nothing more complicated than
believing there is a power out there greater than yourself.

That power can be ANYTHING!

I know a fellow in AA who used gravity as his HP.

I'm so glad you are here, and I wish you the best!

:hug:

[Redstone]

7. Thank you. I do know that the first, essential step is to recognize that

you have a problem.

And I have one. It hasn't been a pleasant day today, but it'll be better tomorrow.

I believe that.

Redstone

[Kajsa]

8. Yes it will!

:pals:

[w8liftinglady]

9. redstone...email me anytime...we can be strong together

I'm fighting demons,too.Sober three weeks now.

[Redstone]

10. Thank you. How's it going for you so far?

Redstone

[MrsBrady]

12. there are people in 12 step that are atheist n/t

[Joe Chi Minh]

13. Well, you know, there are atheists and atheists, according to Christ's Gospel

teaching. It's clear from Matthew 25 that he considers people who help their fellow human-beings in their need to be his sheep, however much they may claim they don't know him.

And conversely, many who claim allegiance to Christ, but make no effort to help the needy and afflicted, do not know him. The religious Establishment of his day accused him of being possessed by the devil, and he told them that, on the contrary, the Devil was their father.

I believe faith in that sense is important for recovery, because, whether consciously religious or unconsciously, with few exceptions, addicted people, it seems to me, are called to what spiritual writers would call a more "recollected" life, a greater, more purposeful self-awareness - but positive with it. Like people who have other crosses and crises of different sorts, I'm sure addictions and the efforts required for recovery from them can enrich a person's life, provided tthey persevere. Nelson Mandela once said something to the effect that a saint is only a person who keeps falling down, picking himself up and starting again.

[Redstone]

14. I, uh, actually do live my life in accordance with Christ's teachings. I just don't go

to church, bacause (among other reasons) I don't think Christian churches these days are what Christ really had in mind.

Thank you for your post; it was quite well-written.


Redstoe

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. Thank you. Why the "uh" though? It was people like you I had in mind?

[Redstone]

18. Sorry for the "uh." I did mean it.

Redstone

[Joe Chi Minh]

22. Not at all. Good to hear to hear you'll take a rough and ready approach

and give the AA a shot, Higher Power or not.

I know it's not for everyone, and people can stop by following other paths, but I keep reading little snippets of wisdom of theirs that it's difficult not to impressed with. But then when you think of the rich experience of the presumably millions of people who've given their input, one way or another, I suppose it's not surprising.

"Know thyself" has always been a pivotal thing with human-beings in all cultures, and I'm sure alcoholism would be as good a medium as the life of a hermit, for learning via many difficult battles, as long as the sufferers realise that it is within their power, with hope and some love in their heart, to define themselves, and not be the victim of other forces. It's a "soul" thing: memory, will and understanding. But hope, too, is pivotal, isn't it?

[NMDemDist2]

17. agreed, I find church really gets in the way of my spirtuality

:evilgrin:

Hell, try AA for 30 days, it won't hurt you a bit and if it doesn't help they will cheerfully refund your misery

:pals:

edit to add, I wasn't a Christian when I got sober and after over 16 years in AA I've stayed sober and still don't go to church or consider myself a Christian. I had no problem with the 'God' stuff after a few weeks, I just used my own conception of a Higher Power.

You gotta do something, some action to start changing things. Why not give it a shot (and I ain't talking tequila here either hehee)?

[Redstone]

20. "...they will cheerfully refund your misery?" I love it. Thanks for the nice, and welcome,

bit of humor. I'll take your advice.

Redstone

[NMDemDist2]

21. "We absolutely INSIST on enjoying life"

I know when I was thinking of trying to quit, I thought I'd never have fun again.

But I can tell you now that I have more fun for less money and remember it and don't have to wonder if I made an ass of myself the next morning.

:hug:

[Redstone]

15. I've heard that. Thanks for reminding me; I may try it after all.

Redstone

[Critters2]

19. I do another 12 step program, and, of course, I'm Christian, but

the meeting I attend most often runs the gamut from an atheist, a Wiccan, to me and a nun...and everything in between, including people whose religion (if any) I don't even know. All of that gets set aside in the meeting. We have different understandings of our higher power, but we're supportive of one another in recovery. It's a great community, and I'd really encourage you to give it a try, Redstone. Maybe there are meetings where you'd be pressured to believe in a particular understanding of God (I do know of one such EA meeting :grr:, so I don't go to that meeting), but most are very open to you being you.

At any rate, I wish you serenity, Redstone! :hi: