The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Hello everyone, I've been attending weekly Al-anon meetings since May. I need to find a sponcer now but my options are limited. I live in a remote area and the meeting I go to is 35 miles away. There is only one other male that attends reguarly. So I asked myself, why not look for an online sponcer? Is that ever done? I haven't tried an online meeting yet but I'm curious about them. The gas and time I would save would be considerable. Any input?
I am new to this message board, only been participating for about 2 weeks. I too have thought about an online sponsor. I kind of use this message board as a sounding board. It works for me i hope it works for you. My A doesnt know that I am participating in Al-anon. I have attended online meetings and find them very helpful..
I attend the meetings online and I love them even more than the face to face (f2f) meetings. I do not have an online sponcer but fing the message board very helpful. feel free to write anything we get back to you.
Hello and welcome to Miracles in Progress. Glad you found us!
In answer to your question, Yes we do have online sponsors. Many people who are here live in remote areas themselves and if it was not for this site, would not have access to alanon. I myself do not have an online sponsor, but I do have a f2f sponsor.
The meetings here are great. I have learned so much. In these meetings the ammount of recovery is so inspirational. The people here are loving and welcoming. I do have my groups that I do attend f2f (face to face). But at times I have found that I get moe out of these meetings because thanks to our wonderful chairs, I feel, that these meetings stick more to the 12 traditions than many f2f meetings I attend. And there are meetings here 7 days a week. There are morning meetings and evening meetings.
I would suggest that if you have a need, give the meetings here. What have you got to lose? And if you don't like them you still have your meeting that you attend.
Hope to see you in the room!
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"Today's problems can not be solved if we still think the way we did when we created them" -Albert Einstein
Yes, online sponsorship is done. Spend time in the chat room and the online meetings, get to know the members here, listen to how they share. You want to look for someone who has worked the steps, who continues to work the program of Al-Anon in all their life affairs, who has found that serenity we talk about by working this program, and who you can relate to. The part of being able to relate to the person is important. As a sponsor, we can only "give away" that which we have experienced/learned ourself. Myself, for example, did not grow up in an alcoholic home. Yes, there was some dysfunction in my own family home, so in some ways I can relate...but it is still different and difficult for me to relate at times. It is always more helpful when your sponsor has experienced what you have. Of course, this may not always be possible to find, and that's okay as we are able to talk with others in program also who may have gone through these things themselves. It's a "WE" program. We all help each other. A sponsor is just like a "best buddy" who you tell everything to (there are some things we don't feel comfortable sharing with the whole group). Same sex sponsorship is recommended. Just take your time, get to know the members...you'll find someone you can relate to.
Just one last word....ftf (face to face) sponsorship is recommended over online sponsorship, it just is more advantageous to do it that way. There is something about being able to look each other in the eye when you talk. To be able to call and meet up for coffee (or whatever) and talk. Online can be hard, lots of writing things out, waiting to hear back, etc. Of course, many exchange phone numbers which is very helpful. Either way, having a sponsor is better than not having one!!
Best wishes to you!
Kis
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Let your light shine in the darkness. "I can't just bring my mind to meetings...I must also bring my heart."
