Re: doing' it old school

First of all congratulations on your 30 days. I believe there are many ways to recovery and whatever works for you is the way to go.

I would also like to add that for some people AA is the only thing that has helped them. I quit drinking 15 yrs ago and after attending for the first year (and not doing the steps, which is the program) I decided I didn't need to go anymore.

The next 3 years I stayed sober but my life was a mess. A D&A councilor suggested I go back to AA so I gave it a try. This time I got a sponsor and did what was suggested (straight from the big book)and my whole life changed.

Fast forward 11 years and having moved back to my home town I didn't connect with AA deciding I must "have it" and that I would be fine. Slowly but surely I slipped back into old friendships and behaviors and relapsed. Funny enough I didn't drink but did drugs.

I ended up putting myself into detox(after 8 months)and then went into support recovery for awhile. I did the steps again and attended meetings everyday.

I now am an active member of my home group having almost 3 years clean and sober. I watch the women I sponsor do the steps,recover and go on to have fabulous,productive lives. The ones that do not recover are the ones not willing to be honest,open and willing to do the steps to the best of their ability.

The recovery rate in Alcoholics Anonymous is more like 2% and I find that the 2% who find recovery find it by following the program out of the book, and then by helping others through the steps and by doing service work.

 There is a spiritual experience that happens when you do the steps to the best of your ability. I have seen people come in who seemed virtuously hopeless and find hope and recovery from doing the work. 

I find your comment "AA's methods of pursuing sobriety are highly unrealistic and are becoming obsolete."

to be somewhat misinformed and perhaps even irresponsible to someone who may decide not to try it because of what they read here. It very well may be the only thing that could work for them.

There is a saying in our book by a man named Herbert Spencer who says,

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance---that principle is contemp prior to investigation."

I mean no disrespect to you or anyone who is seeking out recovery in any way that works for them because really it is none of my business. 

I do think that those of us who find recovery in AA deserve the same respect.

Yours in Recovery

 Jennifer