Wed Night AA Riverside Men's Group

Hello everyone, So we're almost done with the book. This week we'll be reading Chapt 8 - Finding Joy in Life - p165-182. As it so happens, while I was driving back from puriscal today I put on a speaker tape with Sandy B who happened to be talking about the exact same thing!! Now was that Odd or is that God? It's actually a great talk he gives at a group in Arlington Texas (you can find it through iTunes). To sum up the gist of the share in my own words: To get "sober" is easy... Just don't drink!! That's it... If you don't drink, you don't get drunk. (Bet a lot of you didn't know that).   But the overwhelming experience in AA is that to just "not drink" actually  really  sucks!! We'd give it a shot and say "the hell with that I'm going back out". To really  stay sober  we need to become happy, joyous and free. We must find a new thirst for living to replace the old thirst for drinking or using.  We  must  h...

Good Evening fellows, Sharing our story is a key part of recovery. For many members, particularly new comers, there is a strong aversion to sharing their story. For many, whats in the past is something we wish to put behind us. When we say we want to "put something behind us", I think what we really mean is that we want that  something  to not emotionally disturb or disrupt us. The paradox is, of course, the less we talk about it the more it festers within us deep inside and grows. "You're only as sick as your secrets" as the saying goes. Sharing your story helps unload that negative energy so that slowly but surely it starts losing its hold over us. Becoming willing & able to share your story is major milestone on the road to happy, joyous and free. As the big book promises " We will neither regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it. " And remember " Sometimes Quickly, Sometimes Slowly, but they will ALWAYS materialize if we work for...

Hello folks, Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's day so stay indoors and avoid all contact with all leprechauns (except for Fred, He cool)! This week we're reading chapter 7 on Hope. Also, take note that we are reaching the end of the Being Sober and Becoming Happy book. It's time to start contemplating what comes next. Give it some thought and let me know if you have any suggestions. Regards, David t

Hello Everyone, This week we tackle Love & Romance (ie: relationship). Its interesting how he applies the traditions to the concept of relationships. I think its so important we learn how to apply our AA program to  ALL OUR AFFAIRS,  and this is a good example of how to do it. Happy 24hrs, David t. Group Feedback: Hi David....will be in out of town this week but for sure be at meeting week after...I would like to do my story....I think it would help people to get to know me a little more and maybe be of some help...in the past I have not really like to do it...it is a chapter I wanted to put behind me but Fred gave me a different perspective on.     Russ Hey Russ, That sounds good, telling your story is a key part of recovery. When we say we want to "put  something  behind us", I think what we really mean is that we want that  something  to not emotionally disturb or disrupt us. The paradox is, of course, the le...

Hello,      So this week we return to the Being Sober and Becoming Happy book for Chapter 5: Spiritual Recovery from Trauma and Abuse. Now for me personally, reading this chapter did not awaken much within me. Maybe for some it will. Others may wish to boycott this meeting *ejem... TODD*. I read the chapter and for the most part I'll classify this as part of my education as a human being. I am fortunate to have never suffered the type of abuse described in this chapter, but I may someday run into someone who has.  Even so, his advice for recovery from abuse and trauma --in a nutshell-- is:  "We need commit ourselves [to recovery], to trust God and the process of healing. We need to follow the path of truth, especially when it is painful, and trust that it will lead to freedom." (p110) That  I can  relate with. Part of practicing love & tolerance, for me, is looking past what I can't relate to & identifying with what I can. Plus.... ...