Principles B 4 Personalities

[ChrisK]

Principles B 4 Personalities

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I COME FROM SMALL TOWN USA. MANY OF YOU, FROM LARGE CITIES WILL NEVER QUITE GRASP GOING TO A MEETING AND ONLY 1 OR 2 OTHER PEOPLE ARE THERE. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. SINCE MY MEETINGS ARE SMALL, I DON'T GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE AS OTHER PEOPLE DO, ABOUT WHO I BECOME FRIENDS WITH. I'VE LEARNED ACCEPTENCE. I LEARNED TO LOVE PEOPLE FOR WHO THEY ARE AND NOT, FOR WHO I THINK THEY SHOULD BE.
STOP AND THINK, FOR THE MOST PART, WE PICK OUR FRIENDS BECAUSE, THEY ARE LIKE US. I'VE BEEN FORCED TO HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE NOTHING LIKE ME. jAN. THE 25TH'S READING IN THE DAILY REFLECTION MAKES NOTE OF HOW IT TAKES ALL OF US TO HAVE THIS GROUP FELLOWSHIP.

THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT, I'VE BEEN REWARDED BY LEARNING TOLERENCE FOR EVERY TYPE OF PERSON



AMAZING GRACE

CHRIS

[MrDuck]

I understand as I live in a town of 6000. Going to a meeting this morning. There might be 6 or 8 of us there. And outside of the meeting there will be 3 or 4 of them that I personally don't have anything to do with nor do I want to. Sometimes in small groups it is hard to keep personalities before principles. But that is the same problem in large groups. I have gone to many large groups and the only diffence in them is size. But the bottom line is they all work for me if I work them. I have friends in this organization that I don't even like. And if they needed help to stay sober I would do what I can for them.

Ron

[caressa]

My sponsor told me that I could learn two things at meetings. How to work my program and how not to work my program. I was also told, it isn't about the other person, it is about me, especially my attitude.

I don't have to like everyone, but I sure do need to learn to love them, but then I can't do that properly, until I learn to love myself.

Being able to see where someone else is coming from is a big gift in recovery, to be open and accepting of it is a bigger one, and when I am having a good day, and I recognize myself and turn my findings over to God for change, then I am living my program.

[Misty]

Hey Chris---Every situation has its
good points and bad points. I was told that living in a small town is great because you don't have to be
constantly looking over your shoulder to see if someone is trying to rob, molest, or shoot you
The down side of a small town is the small numbers. I go to meetings where the attendance is
anywhere from 5 people to 50 people
If I need to hear and get fresh input I go onto the internet or to
the AA Grapevine magazine. They say
it is our meeting in print....
I'm now living in a suburb of 25,000 which is not real big but not real small either----Mistyeve

[ChrisK]

The down side to a small town would be the fact the meetings are always at 8 o:clock. There are meetings all over. AA has such a strong fellowship. We're never alone unless we choose to be:)

[Misty]

Dear Chris----I was raised in an AA
club where there were people comin
& going. I also have gone to the
basement in church meetings and the loyalty and friendliness is a lot stronger. I have a friend who lives
in "Hootersville" out in the country and the people all cram in
a tiny room and don't split into
smaller groups. I told them they should name the group the "sardine"
group. They just stared at me.....
I need program,humor, & compassion
Just my own opinions---Mistyeve