Went To An NA Meeting Last Night
Problem was - it was supposed to be an AA meeting but I guess no one told the speaker!
Seriously, yes, it did happen. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being at an NA meeting, for me, but I went to an AA meeting. Folks, please, can we all spend some time and put in some effort to make an attempt to teach those who’ve come along after us how to speak at a meeting? Please?
It really shouldn’t be that difficult :-)
Perhaps we could share, in a general way, what we used to be like, what happened and what we are like now? (Oh, and - hey! If you take a look on page 58, it says what “we” were like, not what “it” was like. Unless you’re not tired of being an “it.”)
And, if we can sort it all out, maybe we might remember that we’re a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that [we] may solve our common problem (singular) and help others recover from alcoholism!
Ya’ know - “out there in the real world,” my drug of choice was based on availability. But “in here” in a meeting of AA (as it really ought to be in all the 12 Step fellowships) there is something that is of utmost importance;
A Declaration Of Unity
This we owe to A.A.’s future:
To place our common welfare first;
To keep our fellowship united.
For on A.A. unity depend our lives,
And the lives of those to come.
Used to be I’d go to a fight and a hockey game would break out - now I’d like to go to a speaker meeting and A.A. will break out.
Cheers…
Tags: 12-Steps, alcoholics-anonymous, gratitude, RecoveryRelated Stories
POSTED IN: The 12 Steps
8 opinions for Went To An NA Meeting Last Night
Jen stayathomemotherdom
Sep 24, 2006 at 4:42 pm
I think some people just aren’t naturally good speakers, and we need to remember that some are sicker than others. The only reason I am saying that is that I found myself getting irritated in an AA meeting the other day because everyone seemed to be taking to much time to speak or griping too much about minicule stuff…and sometimes, I think maybe I am too judgmental and need to relax.
Mark
Sep 24, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Agreed Jen - me too! :)
Gwen
Sep 25, 2006 at 4:06 am
The topic of what to share at meetings seems to keep popping up. I try to take it to the lit but so far have not found anything concrete that says “how we should share.” Our experience strength and hope. I just bring it back to me. Why am “I” disturbed? What is it about this person, place or situation that I can not handle. Then I try to put it in God’s hands and trust that he does know best. That person will learn in God’s time not ours.
If you find anything about sharing at meetings in any conference approved lit I would love an in on it ;).
G~
Trudge
Sep 25, 2006 at 8:41 am
I am with you Mark. It is however, really hard to regulate what people say. We are “F”ing alcholics for goodness sake.
Mark
Sep 25, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Thanks folks - I appreciate your feedback :)
Problem was this speaker addressed a room full of recovering alcoholics at an AA clubhouse and gave credit for his “clean time” to NA at an AA meeting. He spoke at length about NA rather than AA. That certainly would not have been a problem at an NA meeting. But an AA meeting? We left not knowing when he got sober - perhaps because he didn’t. And the Steps were a total afterthought.
Didn’t work for me…
Gwen
Sep 25, 2006 at 5:03 pm
That is odd. I don’t know what the answer is there and not sure I would know how to respond if I was sitting in the room. If it is a one time deal ok ~ but if it is happening alot then maybe someone has to speak up. Wondering if anyone said anything to the speaker about it?
Wouldn’t work for me either….
mike p/ f n g online
Nov 11, 2006 at 7:13 am
David …zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz seat down and shut up . Im new on this thing but sober a few 24s does anyone pay attention to this guy ? or do we just let him drone on ??/ whats the deal Mark ?
N/A That reminds me of when THE real F N G spoke at my home group and the chair made it clear to share on expreirance sthrength an hope as try relate to alchol, fng went right into the drug history as his sponer at the time I ask after he was done if he know why 2 or 3 pepolpe walked out? and what didnt he understand about what the chair person said which by the way was me . He then let me know how there were no n a meeting around / B S I dont tink he has spoke sense ,
Mark
Nov 11, 2006 at 7:52 am
Ah, Mike, my dear friend… this troll has been here for a short while and has been providing entertainment and a power of example of what none of us wants to be like.
He’s like the drunk who walks into a meeting and trys to kidnap it for his own purposes, nothing more…
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