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The Area 11 A.A. Newsletter
A Meditation On 25 Years’ Sobriety
Looking over the last quarter century, of the “sometimes
quickly, sometimes slowly” manner of adapting to a sober
life, I admit that I traveled in the breakdown lane.
The Promises of AA have nevertheless come true for me, no
matter how lethargically they arrived. I know new freedoms:
from alcohol and drugs; from harmful relationships, friendly
and romantic; from self-hatred, with interruptions. My happiness is also new. Though I am basically cheery, happiness
once depended upon the acquisition of things: a career, a
handsome partner, and a house. Now, my happiness is occasioned by closeness to a Higher Power and those relationships which bring me closer to it. I’ve found these on my
farm, with my horses, and in the stars above the pasture. I’ve
also found these in helping other alcoholics.
I do not regret the past. Instead, I am grateful for all the
events. They gave me a compelling AA story, after all. I
remember the past when I am tempted to make similar
mistakes today. The tendency to do this has not gone away.
Despite diligent work in AA, I still have character defects and
act out on them. Recalling where they got me before sometimes averts a backslide into the same behavior.
My experience has benefited others in sponsorship, speaking, and service. I prayed for some years just to be useful,
and I was, albeit not appreciated; the lack of appreciation
was meaningless. I came in with a hatful of self-pity. I rarely
feel sorry for myself now. As Tony S. used to say, “I have more
of everything I need than I need, and most of what I want,
too.”
When I arrived in 1990, my outlook was bleak. It is now
hopeful. My attitude changed from judgment to acceptance,
mostly. I fear economic insecurity, although I am not economically insecure. Go figure. I used to be afraid of everything. Gone are the pounding heart and sweating palms, the
brain that fogs over like a winter windshield.
(continued on page 2)
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Vol. 24 No. 3 April - May 2015
Psst... ‘Service is the Secret’... Pass It On!
My first service sponsor seemed to mention, “service is the
secret” every time I saw him share at the podium or on a
panel. When he’d say it a few scattered heads would nod
in agreement. Not very many. Not as many as, say, when
someone says, “you’re only as sick as your secrets,” or “you
don’t know what you don’t know.” “Service is the secret”
certainly didn’t get the “yeps” that most of our slogans often
receive. Up until about a year ago, I would not have identified with the phrase myself, because I didn’t know what I
didn’t know. Today, I know.
“Service is the secret to what?” you may be asking. Well,
much like our individual conceptions of god, I believe the
answer is different for everyone. For me, service has profoundly changed my life. Two years ago, at eight years sober,
I was full of self-pity and loathing, and I was wallowing in
a pretty dark place. I felt lost and alone, so I went to my AA
toolbox and picked up more meetings. Then, I picked up the
General Service Representative (GSR) commitment for my
home group. From there, I was nominated and elected to
represent my District for the Area 11 Convention. While on
that committee I met people from all over the state. At the
time, I was completely ignorant of the AA service structure. I
very quickly became fascinated with it.
One night, while reading The A.A. Service Manual, I was
having difficulty following it because I was in my head feeling sorry for myself again. Then I got the idea (or rather my
Higher Power inspired me) to pick up the Twelve Steps &
Twelve Concepts. I began reading the Traditions for the first
time in I-don’t-know-how-long. While reading Tradition One
I began to tear up. I sent a text to a friend asking if that was a
weird reaction. His response, “I’ve cried.”
Sure enough, by the end of Tradition Three I was sobbing. I
mean barely-catch-my breath kind of crying because I was
so overcome with gratitude and love for this program. I had
absolutely no business feeling sorry for myself! For the first
(continued on page 2)
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Alcohol Stunts Your Growth
(...continued from page 1 “A Meditation on 25 Years”)
Situations which once confounded me – how to be a friend,
how to act socially, how to deal with someone who was
abusive, how to be of help, how to work with others – these
are all things I have encountered. Oh, no! Not another learning experience! I have acquired grace and patience. My
sponsor reminds me, “You need do nothing.” How right she
is.
The God of my understanding has changed from a rigorously defined entity to simply a power greater than myself,
on which I depend for help with the smallest and most
enormous things. It does for me what I cannot do for myself, always.
Whenever the Promises are read in a meeting, when we
affirm that they are not extravagant, I always say, “Heck, no.”
They are not extravagant promises, but AA has produced
extravagant, beautiful, magnificent results, a day at a time,
for a great many days. I am so grateful for my sobriety.
-Amy G.
(...continued from page 1 “Service Is The Secret”)
time, I truly grasped the magnitude of AA and its Legacies,
and understood my responsibility to carry the message. I
remembered how blessed I was to be a part of such an awesome fellowship, and clearly saw God’s hand in every aspect
of our 36 principles (The Steps, Traditions and Concepts). I
felt my Higher Power’s presence like never before and I realized that I was embarking on a new spiritual journey.
From that moment on, I have committed to working with
a service sponsor to educate myself on what I consider the
“forgotten Legacies,” Unity and Service. My experience has
been that many members have little working knowledge
of them. My experience has also taught me that living in
one aspect of the program is not enough for me to remain
spiritually fit. If I am to be whole, I must walk in all three
Legacies.
For me, “service is the secret” has meant rekindling my love
of the program, broadening my horizon, connecting me
with like-minded people, discovering my passion, and giving me new purpose. The few years prior to this awareness I
was living in a complacent fog. Today, thanks to AA service,
the fog has lifted, and I feel as if I have finally awakened to
the sunlight of the spirit. Service is where I find my joy. Try
it! But when you do, don’t keep it a secret… Pass it on!
-Amy M., DCM District 1-3
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When I was drinking, I was often rude, angry and unpleasant to be around. I could be emotionally abusive to my
friends and loved ones. I was selfish. It’s not that I tried to
steal all the toys, but I would not share and play nice with
others. You could find me in the dictionary under “selfless”
– Not!
Now that I am not drinking, I can still be rude and unpleasant, and, yes, angry. But today I know when I am not acting
sober, and I try to make amends. Before AA, I thought my
way of life was fitting and proper, with me in the center.
Today, Higher Power is at the center, and I know I am
expected to be gentle and kind and always ready to be of
service. I have changed.
Once alcohol was no longer blocking me from seeing what
sort of person I was, I could start the process of changing
from egotistical and self-centered into someone not willing
to be that person. Someone you could trust. Someone who
wanted to meet your family, your friends, and to be of
service to you, the fellowship and the world.
And someday, God willing, I will become that man. But
for today, I am following the program, working the Steps,
doing service, and growing toward a future that I could not
see when I was drunk.
-Richard B.
Practicing the Eleventh Step
Practicing our 11th step meditation is not just about
finding quiet time. It is about starting to find a quiet
mind.
The Problem
1.
2.
3.
4.
We are way too busy.
We think we can’t find quiet time.
It’s not a quick fix. This does take time.
There is no end. We like an ending; we like to graduate.
The Solution: Focus on one thing at a time.
When I’m at a meeting I’m focused and after the meeting
I feel better. When I’m “in the now” and focused I always
feel better.
I like to start my meditation in a quiet place. Choose a
special place, either indoors or outdoors, so that when
you sit down you know it’s about meditation, quiet, being still and knowing God.
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Sit with your back straight and your feet on the floor.
Close your eyes, rest, and just breathe in and out softly,
knowing in your mind that with the in-breath you are
quiet, and with the out-breath you are still. There is no
need to say anything, just think “quiet and still…quiet
and still.”
I know every time I experience a meditation that seems
to work, I feel great. I had no idea that I would ever be
able to sit still and enjoy it. Be grateful – be mindful – be
still.
–Anonymous
Humility In Long-Term Sobriety
Grateful in retirement and sober for twenty-nine years, I am
still learning lessons in humility.
My sober life and retirement have allowed me to spend extended periods of time in Maine. My wife and I have a small
cottage there and enjoy the quiet of the wooded site with
the sound of the ocean surf nearby.
In an attempt to extend my AA family to this area, I started
by attending many meetings there. There were enough
meetings around that, with a drive of fifteen or twenty
miles, I could attend a meeting or more every day of the
week. Over the first few weeks, I would find the meetings I
liked the most, meet new people, and establish a support
group and AA family in those meetings. I found that though
the meeting formats, locations, and people were different,
the Steps and Traditions of AA are there to preserve the
simple tools and Fellowship needed for me to stay sober
and continue this life I have been blessed with.
I walked into a morning meeting in a neighboring town
and was greeted by a pleasant woman who asked if I would
read “How it Works.” I agreed. It’s one of my favorite things.
It was a closed discussion meeting, with the chairperson
qualifying for ten or fifteen minutes, after which the meeting was opened up to the floor for discussion. After a couple
of minutes (I guess realizing that I was a new face with a
new story) the woman approached me again and asked if
I would take the meeting. Again I agreed, and headed for
the front of the room to take my place at the table facing
the group. The woman, Karen, came down to the table and
said “I’m sorry I should have asked how long you have been
sober.” With an air of nonchalance to assure her she had not
made a mistake, I said, “oh, almost thirty years.” An old timer
in the front row, Bill, said “Almost thirty years. Sounds like 29
to me.”
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Touché Bill. Another lesson in humility received. I always
get something to take home from a meeting
-Grayson C., Barkhamsted CT
La humildad en la sobriedad a largo plazo
Agradecido en el retiro y sobrio por veintinueve años, todavía estoy aprendiendo lecciones de humildad.
Mi vida sobria y mi retiro me han permitido pasar periodos
de tiempo extendidos en Maine. Mi esposa y yo tenemos
una pequeña cabaña allá y disfrutamos la tranquilidad de la
vista al bosque con el sonido del oleaje cercano.
En un intento de extender mi familia de AA a esta área, yo
comencé por asistir a varias reuniones allá. Habían suficientes reuniones alrededor que, conduciendo a quince o
veinte millas, yo podía asistir a una reunión o más cada día
de la semana. Durante las primeras cuantas semanas, yo
encontraría las reuniones que más me gustaban, conocería
a personas nuevas, y establecería un grupo de apoyo y una
familia de AA allá. Encontré que aunque los formatos de las
reuniones, los locales, y las personas eran diferentes, los Pasos y las Tradiciones de AA están allí para preservar las herramientas simples y el compañerismo necesario para que
yo me mantenga sobrio y continúe con esta vida bendecida
que he recibido.
Entré a una reunión de la mañana en un pueblo vecino y fui
recibido por una mujer agradable que me pidió que leyera
“Cómo funciona.” Yo estuve de acuerdo. Es una de mis cosas
favoritas. Era una reunión de discusión cerrada, permitiéndole al coordinador diez o quince minutos, después de
los cuales se abrió la reunión al pleno para la discusión.
Después de unos cuantos minutos (supongo que dándose
cuenta que yo era el nuevo rostro con una nueva historia) la
señora se dirigió hacia mí nuevamente y me dio la palabra
en la reunión. Nuevamente yo estuve de acuerdo, y fui hacia
el frente del salón para tomar mi lugar en la mesa viendo
hacia el grupo. La mujer, Karen, se acercó a la mesa y dijo,
“Disculpe, yo debí haberle preguntado cuánto tiempo tiene
de sobriedad.” Con un aire de indiferencia para asegurarle
que ella no había cometido un error, yo dije, “o, casi treinta
años.” Un veterano en la primera fila, Bill, dijo “Casi treinta
años. A mí me suenan como 29.”
Bien dicho Bill. Otra lección de humildad recibida. Siempre
tengo algo que llevarme a casa después de una reunión.
-Grayson C., Barkhamsted CT
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P.A.U.S.E.
ROUND-UP 41
It says in Step Eleven in the Big Book to pause
when agitated or doubtful. I also need to
pause when too excited or trustful. The Buddha teaches that life is impermanent. With this
in mind, I developed this acronym to guide me
on my way:
Sunday April 12, 2015
8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Stratford Academy Johnson House
719 Birdseye St. Stratford, CT
$10 preregistration/ $12 registration
www.ct-aa.org for more details
P – Peaceful
A – Acceptance
U – Understanding
S – Stressful
E – Emotions
District 4 Gratitude
Breakfast
Saturday, April 18, 2015
9 am - 12 pm
St. Therese Church
105 Leetes Island Rd. Branford, CT
For more info contact:
Kenny Mc at 203-467-2331
Spring Assembly
-John O., New Britain CT
May 17, 2015
9 am - 1 pm
Knights of Columbus
2630 Whitney Ave, Hamden CT
We Want To Hear
From You!
Submit Articles, Photos, Letters, Suggestions and
Constructive Criticism:
Soberfest 2015
June 5 - 7, 2015
Odetah Campgrounds, Bozrah CT
Registration form online
For more info, email [email protected]
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: Alki-Line, 112 E. Main St,
Meriden, CT 06450
• Hand material to a GSR
This newsletter is by and for alcoholics; however,
we review submissions by all interested in the AA
program of recovery. Material may be edited for
clarity and length. This newsletter and earlier issues can be downloaded at www.ct-aa.org.
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