Now to get to the nitty, gritty of what AA is like.
Meetings run an hour. They can be speaker meetings (in which one speaker gives a "speech" about how their life was when they were drunk, how it changed, and how their life is now), discussion meetings (in which people take turns talking), or what I call "learning" meetings (in which we study the "Big Book", the 12 steps, or the 12 traditions).
You have to understand that where I live the majority of meetings are discussion meetings. New people explain why they want to get sober and older members, with a smug air of satisfaction, explain how hard it is and how wonderful their life is now.
So, to what you've all been waiting for: "Why I Don't Go to AA"
1) I got sober in order to have a real life. Spending two hours a day at AA is not having a real life. It's letting alcohol still control my life, just in a different way.
2) I don't need to spend all my free time at AA. The old-timers say "if you stay in the middle of AA, you won't fall off the edge." Well, since only 3% of people are there after the first year....well, there much not be much room in the middle.
3) I don't derive satisfaction out of telling new people how hard it is to get sober. Get real...if you really want to do it, you will. If you don't, you won't. It's a process that requires support and a check of realism- not discouragement.
4) I get tired of having to explain to people why I'm not there everyday. People will flat out say "where have you been!?" if you take a week off. F*** off! I have a life. I don't have to explain it to you.
5) I don't fight the urge to drink everyday. I barely ever want a drink...and when I do, it's a minute or so and then it passes. If you're still fighting not drinking everyday, you missed something along the way.
-and-the final and most important reason:
6) YOU'RE NOT MY PARENT JUST BECAUSE YOU SPENT MORE TIME DRUNK THAN I DID. I'm an adult. I can make my own decisions (and my own mistakes). You're not special because you drank for 20 years. I'm not special because I drank for five years. We're both drunks who are now sober. Get over yourself already.
Wishing everyone a wonderful day! And to those who drink, enjoy a beer for me!
Jennie
Meetings run an hour. They can be speaker meetings (in which one speaker gives a "speech" about how their life was when they were drunk, how it changed, and how their life is now), discussion meetings (in which people take turns talking), or what I call "learning" meetings (in which we study the "Big Book", the 12 steps, or the 12 traditions).
You have to understand that where I live the majority of meetings are discussion meetings. New people explain why they want to get sober and older members, with a smug air of satisfaction, explain how hard it is and how wonderful their life is now.
So, to what you've all been waiting for: "Why I Don't Go to AA"
1) I got sober in order to have a real life. Spending two hours a day at AA is not having a real life. It's letting alcohol still control my life, just in a different way.
2) I don't need to spend all my free time at AA. The old-timers say "if you stay in the middle of AA, you won't fall off the edge." Well, since only 3% of people are there after the first year....well, there much not be much room in the middle.
3) I don't derive satisfaction out of telling new people how hard it is to get sober. Get real...if you really want to do it, you will. If you don't, you won't. It's a process that requires support and a check of realism- not discouragement.
4) I get tired of having to explain to people why I'm not there everyday. People will flat out say "where have you been!?" if you take a week off. F*** off! I have a life. I don't have to explain it to you.
5) I don't fight the urge to drink everyday. I barely ever want a drink...and when I do, it's a minute or so and then it passes. If you're still fighting not drinking everyday, you missed something along the way.
-and-the final and most important reason:
6) YOU'RE NOT MY PARENT JUST BECAUSE YOU SPENT MORE TIME DRUNK THAN I DID. I'm an adult. I can make my own decisions (and my own mistakes). You're not special because you drank for 20 years. I'm not special because I drank for five years. We're both drunks who are now sober. Get over yourself already.
Wishing everyone a wonderful day! And to those who drink, enjoy a beer for me!
Jennie
