Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene

humm122988 · Newbie

New...lots of questions...

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Welcome Humm We do hold on line meetings here in the chat room 2xs a day

Meetings
9 AM EST Mon-Fri
9 PM EST Mon-Sat
10 AM EST Sat & Sun
7 PM EST Sunday

There is also a very helpful "frequently asked questions message" found at http://alanon.activeboard.com/t13820090/frequently-asked-questions/
This could answer many of your questions.

The program is a process and obtaining a sponsor is extremely important to progress in program.

I found the slogans were a great piece of profound principles that I could easily remember when I first entered program. I discovered that if I could implement these concepts, I was well on my way to being ready to work the steps. Here is a sample:

Slogans in a Poem by Coach Papa

First Things First - I have heard it said - Be Honest With yourself, - get out of your head - You can Feel Good -About Saying "No" - Keep Coming Back to - Talk And Grow - Easy Does It - sounds real nice - If you Keep It Simple - you don't roll the dice - Live And Let Live - Brings it back to you - They're in recovery, - you are, too - What's to Be will Be - So, Let Go & Let God - Just wait and see - That one Day At A Time - Is more than a phrase - In Al-Anon, - it's the phrase that pays - Think! Listen And Learn - or watch bridges burn - Keep An Open Mind, - Now it's your turn - Is your serenity worth it - Just, Fake It 'Till You Make It! - I am pretty sure, You can - Cause, How - important is it? - In time, you will understand - It's true, we're all different, - But, together we can make it - If you feel that you can't, - Then, once again, fake it - When you let it begin with me - The fog will raise, - the sun will shine - Your eyes will see - Slogans are there - For you to use - Say one every day - So you don't sing the blues - It works when you work it - We say and it's true - We're all here to help - But your recovery is up to you.:

We also have a Step Work Board at: http://stepwork.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=42763

Keep coming back There is help and hope

Mirandac · ~*Service Worker*~

Check online with alanon for groups in your area also the
Local papers have the listings often. I print out the meetings
From their website for our group.

Step work is great after you have been in for a while and are
Grasping what you need to grasp. There is no quick easy fixes
Except lots of chair time and listening, learning and absorbing
All the ESH you can. Its a process and its about you not your
Qualifier.

Some people might offer to be a temporary sponsor. Thats
someone who will show you the ropes and help With steps
1,2 and 3.

Big areas might have beginner meetings which would Be great
to have And be a part of as a newcomer. AA has them where i
Live just not alanon.

There is literature to buy the three daily readers, some groups
Give out how alanon works, a lending library in most and free
Pamphlets are available.

HUGS and welcome

((((((( Humm )))))

humm122988 · Newbie

Greatly appreciate the info. It's quite overwhelming. My wife is a recovering alcoholic and bulimic. She's been sober from alcohol for two years and over a week from her ed...the majority of which was spent in a rehab in Texas. I just recently moved to a small town in MO and there aren't any meetings nor are there any open aa meetings. I still drink occasionally (socially...maybe twice a year...always check with the spouse first), so I feel that it would be disrespectful to go to a closed aa meeting. Is anyone interested in being a temporary sponsor and helping me get started on all this?

Mirandac · ~*Service Worker*~

Generally you find sponsors at live meetings
Thats the traditional way. Do try the online
Meetings here to learn the ropes. The times
Are listed at the top of the page. I do hope
You can find a ftf mtg to attend. HUGS

Maresie · Senior Member

I can imagine there is a lot new for you. The majority of AA meetings are open. In general they are very welcome to newcomers Sponsors are tricky. Some people have the same sponsor their whole life. Other people move around. The literature is somewhat helpful too. The main things are the tools and flowing the suggestions Maresie

KennyFenderjazz · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi Patrick, and welcome. One of the best things I did was just read this forum. Old posts, and new ones as they come in. Online meetings are good too. There aren't many open AA meetings around me, and I agree, the point of a closed AA meeting is that only alcoholics should be there.

Kenny

Iamhere · ~*Service Worker*~

Hello humm and welcome to MIP! Glad you found us and glad that you joined in. I agree that closed meetings is not a good place to go, and my hope is you can find some Al-Anon meetings close by as you get settled into your new location. Open AA meetings are also very helpful to better understand our qualifier and the disease.

Online meetings here are great! If you try to attend and there is no chair person, there is usually also others who will chat with you about the program, recovery, etc. Also, there are some here who have found podcasts with great Al-Anon speakers - use google and explore those. Lastly, as Kenny suggests - reading here will certainly support your side of the recovery from the disease.

To the top right of this page, there is a step forum. You can certainly get a start with your efforts there if you can't find a local meeting/local sponsor. Online sponsors can help but it's a challenge for both sides.

Get some literature and engage as best you can with what you got. We all work the program one day at a time, so we never graduate! Keep coming back!

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.

Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene