Comments on: How to Share in a Meeting http://thelastchancetexaco.com Tales of Recovery from Crystal Meth Addiction Sun, 06 May 2012 06:43:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Chris http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-7333 Chris Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:29:04 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-7333 oh, J David B - - I SO needed to read this today. You are absolutely correct that listening is the other half of sharing and I thank you for pointing that out. And you have my sympathy for your situation - sort of. I mean, you're in France. Not Uganda. France. ;-) But then, that does mean you got cut off in wine country. That must be it's own special hell. Thanks again for your insightful and humorous comment. oh, J David B – - I SO needed to read this today. You are absolutely correct that listening is the other half of sharing and I thank you for pointing that out. And you have my sympathy for your situation – sort of. I mean, you’re in France. Not Uganda. France. ;-) But then, that does mean you got cut off in wine country. That must be it’s own special hell.

Thanks again for your insightful and humorous comment.

]]> By: J David B http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-7294 J David B Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:53:46 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-7294 as a real addict, with no chances left, any meeting is a delight to have survived to be able to attend .... listening is also sharing, the other half ... if the meeting is drifting in a way not appreciated, raise your hand and talk about what step you worked today ... as an american in france, here because the french police have my passport to assure my recovery ... i go to french meetings where i do not understand the language, but i can sense God in the room ... next time the meeting seems off beat, imagine my status, if that helps ... went to a french treatment center last week and shared my experience in french ... for the first time .. voila as a real addict, with no chances left, any meeting is a delight to have survived to be able to attend …. listening is also sharing, the other half … if the meeting is drifting in a way not appreciated, raise your hand and talk about what step you worked today … as an american in france, here because the french police have my passport to assure my recovery … i go to french meetings where i do not understand the language, but i can sense God in the room … next time the meeting seems off beat, imagine my status, if that helps … went to a french treatment center last week and shared my experience in french … for the first time .. voila

]]> By: Chris http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-5732 Chris Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:40:52 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-5732 Blue: Don't beat yourself up about that. We all do that early on. Heck, many of us do it later on. I have ideals galore, but I can't always live up to them. The point is that I'm willing to grow. I didn't include the most important guideline however; you can share anything you need to as long as you're honest and you have a desire to stop drinking. Blue: Don’t beat yourself up about that. We all do that early on. Heck, many of us do it later on. I have ideals galore, but I can’t always live up to them. The point is that I’m willing to grow. I didn’t include the most important guideline however; you can share anything you need to as long as you’re honest and you have a desire to stop drinking.

]]> By: blue http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-5717 blue Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:00:53 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-5717 i've just found your blog and i'm reading through your posts. i'm in the early days of being sober and i have a really good local AA meeting but i have found myself sharing in a completely disorganised and rambling way which leaves me feeling i have taken up a lot of time saying stuff that is not very helpful to anyone. i forget to thank the chair for their share and then thank them half way through and generally get in a mess. your guidelines are really helpful to me and i will put them into practice next time i share. thank you! i’ve just found your blog and i’m reading through your posts. i’m in the early days of being sober and i have a really good local AA meeting but i have found myself sharing in a completely disorganised and rambling way which leaves me feeling i have taken up a lot of time saying stuff that is not very helpful to anyone. i forget to thank the chair for their share and then thank them half way through and generally get in a mess. your guidelines are really helpful to me and i will put them into practice next time i share. thank you!

]]> By: Chris http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-2734 Chris Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:49:14 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-2734 Good point, Ben. I actually require anyone I sponsor to make a commitment to one of 2 book study meetings around here that I think are particularly good. I've seen people fail the program for any number of "reasons" but I've never seen the program, the steps, fail anyone. Good point, Ben. I actually require anyone I sponsor to make a commitment to one of 2 book study meetings around here that I think are particularly good. I’ve seen people fail the program for any number of “reasons” but I’ve never seen the program, the steps, fail anyone.

]]> By: Ben http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-2710 Ben Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:15:25 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-2710 I recommend big book studies, they have played and are playing a vital role in my growing in understanding and effectiveness. I remember going to meetings and hearing 1 or 2 people share and I'd say to myself "that person is saying exactly what I'm thinking." And I'd naturally be attracted to them but my ego would tell me to stay away from them because they know! They seemed to have what I wanted and but I didn't know it at the time turns out they did have what I wanted! A spiritual awakening!!! And the book is what holds the directions to that! We beg of you to lay aside prejudice!! God set aside everything we THINK we know so we can have new and open minded experience, the illness centers in the mind, alcohol is not the problem, sobriety was my problem I hated how I felt sober and the only thing that "fixed" it was alcohol. I've found only 2 remedies for alcoholism the STEPS or ALCOHOL... God is everything or else He is nothing, what was our choice to be? I recommend big book studies, they have played and are playing a vital role in my growing in understanding and effectiveness. I remember going to meetings and hearing 1 or 2 people share and I’d say to myself “that person is saying exactly what I’m thinking.” And I’d naturally be attracted to them but my ego would tell me to stay away from them because they know! They seemed to have what I wanted and but I didn’t know it at the time turns out they did have what I wanted! A spiritual awakening!!! And the book is what holds the directions to that! We beg of you to lay aside prejudice!! God set aside everything we THINK we know so we can have new and open minded experience, the illness centers in the mind, alcohol is not the problem, sobriety was my problem I hated how I felt sober and the only thing that “fixed” it was alcohol. I’ve found only 2 remedies for alcoholism the STEPS or ALCOHOL… God is everything or else He is nothing, what was our choice to be?

]]> By: Denise L http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-2485 Denise L Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:16:25 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-2485 Larry, the principles behind the steps appear clearly stated in the NA literature: NA Step Working Guides. For each step, they are listed under the heading: Spiritual Principles. Larry, the principles behind the steps appear clearly stated in the NA literature: NA Step Working Guides. For each step, they are listed under the heading: Spiritual Principles.

]]> By: Larry http://thelastchancetexaco.com/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-2338 Larry Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:27:31 +0000 http://thelastchancetexaco.com/about-2/how-to-share-in-a-meeting/#comment-2338 Excellent suggestions and a much needed and seldom addressed topic. Two points: No one is ever required to participate in the 7th tradition. As someone who showed up at AA eight years ago without a penny to my name, I am forever grateful that people explained to me that AA is free. I cringe when I hear people say "and a meeting is only a dollar." There are no "principles behind the steps". (Those one word nemonics like Hope, Honesty, Justice etc) These seem to have taken on a life of their own. They simply don't exist and whenever someone quotes them like they were fact they give them credence. Remember if its not anywhere in the literature it is not part of the AA program... Excellent suggestions and a much needed and seldom addressed topic.

Two points:

No one is ever required to participate in the 7th tradition. As someone who showed up at AA eight years ago without a penny to my name, I am forever grateful that people explained to me that AA is free. I cringe when I hear people say “and a meeting is only a dollar.”

There are no “principles behind the steps”. (Those one word nemonics like Hope, Honesty, Justice etc) These seem to have taken on a life of their own. They simply don’t exist and whenever someone quotes them like they were fact they give them credence. Remember if its not anywhere in the literature it is not part of the AA program…

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