There's nothing like doing a fourth step with a sponsee new to the program and being part of her and HP's seeing and clearing away the wreckage. I get to revisit my wreckage too. For me, helping others is the cornerstone of my recovery, in and out of program. If I curl back into my shell and avoid meetings, hard discussions, and my favorite, work deadlines, it's not long before I think about numbing out again. And as my sponsor says, "is that what God would have you be? I don't think you're packing anything useful into your life or others." Grateful for my longtime sponsor.
I want to let one of your responders know what I have found in my 53 years of sobriety. There should be no guilt in not having a sponsor unless you really need one. I was told when I came in that a sponsor would help me get over the rough patches in the beginning and then become a friend. That is exactly what happened in my experience. I had a sponsor who helped me immensely and soon became my friend, along with all the others I met in early sobriety.
There is nothing wrong with having a long time sponsor, my wife is 47 years sober now and still calls her sponsor she started out with long ago.
I find what helps me the most is meetings, meetings, and more meetings. Helping others is the key component for me to maintain my sobriety and happiness.
AA truly is a simple program for complicated people. We just need to find what works best depending on how complicated we, as individuals, are.
There's nothing like doing a fourth step with a sponsee new to the program and being part of her and HP's seeing and clearing away the wreckage. I get to revisit my wreckage too. For me, helping others is the cornerstone of my recovery, in and out of program. If I curl back into my shell and avoid meetings, hard discussions, and my favorite, work deadlines, it's not long before I think about numbing out again. And as my sponsor says, "is that what God would have you be? I don't think you're packing anything useful into your life or others." Grateful for my longtime sponsor.
I want to let one of your responders know what I have found in my 53 years of sobriety. There should be no guilt in not having a sponsor unless you really need one. I was told when I came in that a sponsor would help me get over the rough patches in the beginning and then become a friend. That is exactly what happened in my experience. I had a sponsor who helped me immensely and soon became my friend, along with all the others I met in early sobriety.
There is nothing wrong with having a long time sponsor, my wife is 47 years sober now and still calls her sponsor she started out with long ago.
I find what helps me the most is meetings, meetings, and more meetings. Helping others is the key component for me to maintain my sobriety and happiness.
AA truly is a simple program for complicated people. We just need to find what works best depending on how complicated we, as individuals, are.
Today was my first email issue of the Small Bow. I loved it. Thank you.