Working With Others

[JB]

"Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity
from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when
other activities fail.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them
help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up
about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must
not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with
newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives" -
Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89

I have chosen this passage from AA's Big Book primarily in order to be
able to share with you how, today, spending time with other AAers has
been helpful to me

Last Sunday, my husband died. He died peacefully at home in his own
bed - just as he hoped he would when came his time to leave this
earth. We've been together 22 years. I discovered what had happened
when I woke late, saw the time and turned to tell him that we ought to
get moving.

This morning, I was visited by the gentleman who will be officiating
at my husband's funeral and together we've finalised the Order of
Service. Also today, I've completed further tasks associated with it
and been giving thought to other things that still have to be done
before the event. Therefore, by late this afternoon, I'd become
exhausted and was also feeling emotional. In other words, I'd reached
the point at which I had begun to feel sorry for myself, in need of a
good cry and was missing my husband. Now, when in this state sometimes
it's better for me to not just sit and cry but rather make myself do
something that could lift my spirits. So, I said to myself: "You silly
b***er. What good can it do you to sit alone sobbing ? Get yourself to
that AA meeting up the road. There, probably, you'll hear something
that will be helpful to you and also, probably, by the end of that
meeting, your HP will have seen fit to remove your self-pity". I made
the right choice

The meeting was a BB meeting. In addition to gaining benefit from the
reading - Chapter 3 - and from what others shared, I gained benefit
from choosing to talk about how AA has transformed my life and also
explaining how its teachings and Fellowship have made it possible for
me to find - at least so far - the strength I've needed to cope with
my husband's death and the consequences thereof.

For me, at this point in my life, I have no doubts that it is AA that
has enabled me to discover what I need to be able to deal with life.
And for that I am truly grateful .

Sheenah
--------
"Truth is generally the best vindication against slander" Abraham
Lincoln

[Gregg]

JB wrote:
> "Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity
> from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when
> other activities fail.
>
> Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them
> help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up
> about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must
> not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with
> newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives" -
> Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
>
> I have chosen this passage from AA's Big Book primarily in order to be
> able to share with you how, today, spending time with other AAers has
> been helpful to me
>
> Last Sunday, my husband died. He died peacefully at home in his own
> bed - just as he hoped he would when came his time to leave this
> earth. We've been together 22 years. I discovered what had happened
> when I woke late, saw the time and turned to tell him that we ought to
> get moving.
>
> This morning, I was visited by the gentleman who will be officiating
> at my husband's funeral and together we've finalised the Order of
> Service. Also today, I've completed further tasks associated with it
> and been giving thought to other things that still have to be done
> before the event. Therefore, by late this afternoon, I'd become
> exhausted and was also feeling emotional. In other words, I'd reached
> the point at which I had begun to feel sorry for myself, in need of a
> good cry and was missing my husband. Now, when in this state sometimes
> it's better for me to not just sit and cry but rather make myself do
> something that could lift my spirits. So, I said to myself: "You silly
> b***er. What good can it do you to sit alone sobbing ? Get yourself to
> that AA meeting up the road. There, probably, you'll hear something
> that will be helpful to you and also, probably, by the end of that
> meeting, your HP will have seen fit to remove your self-pity". I made
> the right choice
>
> The meeting was a BB meeting. In addition to gaining benefit from the
> reading - Chapter 3 - and from what others shared, I gained benefit
> from choosing to talk about how AA has transformed my life and also
> explaining how its teachings and Fellowship have made it possible for
> me to find - at least so far - the strength I've needed to cope with
> my husband's death and the consequences thereof.
>
> For me, at this point in my life, I have no doubts that it is AA that
> has enabled me to discover what I need to be able to deal with life.
> And for that I am truly grateful .
>
> Sheenah
> --------
> "Truth is generally the best vindication against slander" Abraham
> Lincoln
>
>
May I offer my condolences. Though I haven't committed myself to AA as
my choice of recovery, I find your committment refreshing. I hope that
you can find comfort among your friends their. I also hope that your
strength will show a good example to others. It has to me.

Gregg

[Bobby L]

"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:ctjqtp$v07$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> "Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity
> from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when
> other activities fail.
>
> Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them
> help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up
> about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must
> not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with
> newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives" -
> Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
>
> I have chosen this passage from AA's Big Book primarily in order to be
> able to share with you how, today, spending time with other AAers has
> been helpful to me
>
> Last Sunday, my husband died. He died peacefully at home in his own
> bed - just as he hoped he would when came his time to leave this
> earth. We've been together 22 years. I discovered what had happened
> when I woke late, saw the time and turned to tell him that we ought to
> get moving.
>
> This morning, I was visited by the gentleman who will be officiating
> at my husband's funeral and together we've finalised the Order of
> Service. Also today, I've completed further tasks associated with it
> and been giving thought to other things that still have to be done
> before the event. Therefore, by late this afternoon, I'd become
> exhausted and was also feeling emotional. In other words, I'd reached
> the point at which I had begun to feel sorry for myself, in need of a
> good cry and was missing my husband. Now, when in this state sometimes
> it's better for me to not just sit and cry but rather make myself do
> something that could lift my spirits. So, I said to myself: "You silly
> b***er. What good can it do you to sit alone sobbing ? Get yourself to
> that AA meeting up the road. There, probably, you'll hear something
> that will be helpful to you and also, probably, by the end of that
> meeting, your HP will have seen fit to remove your self-pity". I made
> the right choice
>
> The meeting was a BB meeting. In addition to gaining benefit from the
> reading - Chapter 3 - and from what others shared, I gained benefit
> from choosing to talk about how AA has transformed my life and also
> explaining how its teachings and Fellowship have made it possible for
> me to find - at least so far - the strength I've needed to cope with
> my husband's death and the consequences thereof.
>
> For me, at this point in my life, I have no doubts that it is AA that
> has enabled me to discover what I need to be able to deal with life.
> And for that I am truly grateful .
>
> Sheenah
> --------
> "Truth is generally the best vindication against slander" Abraham
> Lincoln
>
>

Sheenah,

I'm not sure about the scientific mathematics of this but I do know it works
for me.

A problem shared is cut in half - a joy shared is doubled. When it seems
life for me was at its worst, taking it to a meeting and sharing it lessened
the pain. I found those folks at those meetings really did care. For a
long time in my drinking I kept both my sorrows and my victories to myself
believing no one would really understand. I know today how wrong I was.

I send you my best hopes in these trying times. You can do this .... with
his help and with their help ... and the most adult thing we can ever do is
ask for help.

Bobby L

p.s. Next time you talk moonraker, ask him to drop me a line... I saw him
in Macon last month, but cannot find the email address he gave me.

[Dan McGown]

"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:ctjqtp$v07$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...

My dear,
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Dan

[Kai2]

JB wrote:

I am so sorry for your loss, Sheenah.

Kai2

[Gail]

I am truly sorry for your loss, Sheenah. You hang in there and take care of
you.
Gail

[John Droge]

"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:ctjqtp$v07$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...

>
> For me, at this point in my life, I have no doubts that it is AA that
> has enabled me to discover what I need to be able to deal with life.
> And for that I am truly grateful .
>
> Sheenah
> --------

Sheenah
I am so sorry to read about your loss. We wrote back and forth once, you and
I, about getting "it". I think that it is coming from inside now for you. Be
good to yourself now.
Peace
John

[Robert McGregor]

"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:ctjqtp$v07$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> Last Sunday, my husband died. He died peacefully at home in his
> own
> bed - just as he hoped he would when came his time to leave this
> earth. We've been together 22 years. I discovered what had
> happened
> when I woke late, saw the time and turned to tell him that we ought
> to
> get moving.
>

My condolences, Sheena

Bob

[rosie readandpost]

JB,
you are in my thoughts and prayers.
rosie








"Bobby L" <BobbyL2000spam@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:41hLd.4526$qJ3.676@bignews1.bellsouth.net...
:
: "JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
: news:ctjqtp$v07$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
: > "Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure
immunity
: > from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works
when
: > other activities fail.
: >
: > Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see
them
: > help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship
grow up
: > about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you
must
: > not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact
with
: > newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives" -
: > Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
: >
: > I have chosen this passage from AA's Big Book primarily in order
to be
: > able to share with you how, today, spending time with other
AAers has
: > been helpful to me
: >
: > Last Sunday, my husband died. He died peacefully at home in his
own
: > bed - just as he hoped he would when came his time to leave this
: > earth. We've been together 22 years. I discovered what had
happened
: > when I woke late, saw the time and turned to tell him that we
ought to
: > get moving.
: >
: > This morning, I was visited by the gentleman who will be
officiating
: > at my husband's funeral and together we've finalised the Order
of
: > Service. Also today, I've completed further tasks associated
with it
: > and been giving thought to other things that still have to be
done
: > before the event. Therefore, by late this afternoon, I'd become
: > exhausted and was also feeling emotional. In other words, I'd
reached
: > the point at which I had begun to feel sorry for myself, in need
of a
: > good cry and was missing my husband. Now, when in this state
sometimes
: > it's better for me to not just sit and cry but rather make
myself do
: > something that could lift my spirits. So, I said to myself: "You
silly
: > b***er. What good can it do you to sit alone sobbing ? Get
yourself to
: > that AA meeting up the road. There, probably, you'll hear
something
: > that will be helpful to you and also, probably, by the end of
that
: > meeting, your HP will have seen fit to remove your self-pity". I
made
: > the right choice
: >
: > The meeting was a BB meeting. In addition to gaining benefit
from the
: > reading - Chapter 3 - and from what others shared, I gained
benefit
: > from choosing to talk about how AA has transformed my life and
also
: > explaining how its teachings and Fellowship have made it
possible for
: > me to find - at least so far - the strength I've needed to cope
with
: > my husband's death and the consequences thereof.
: >
: > For me, at this point in my life, I have no doubts that it is AA
that
: > has enabled me to discover what I need to be able to deal with
life.
: > And for that I am truly grateful .
: >
: > Sheenah
: > --------
: > "Truth is generally the best vindication against slander"
Abraham
: > Lincoln
: >
: >
:
: Sheenah,
:
: I'm not sure about the scientific mathematics of this but I do
know it works
: for me.
:
: A problem shared is cut in half - a joy shared is doubled. When
it seems
: life for me was at its worst, taking it to a meeting and sharing
it lessened
: the pain. I found those folks at those meetings really did care.
For a
: long time in my drinking I kept both my sorrows and my victories
to myself
: believing no one would really understand. I know today how wrong
I was.
:
: I send you my best hopes in these trying times. You can do this
..... with
: his help and with their help ... and the most adult thing we can
ever do is
: ask for help.
:
: Bobby L
:
: p.s. Next time you talk moonraker, ask him to drop me a line... I
saw him
: in Macon last month, but cannot find the email address he gave me.
:
:
:

[John Royer]

"JB" <JBCatRB@coldman.com> wrote in message
news:ctjqtp$v07$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...

> Last Sunday, my husband died. He died peacefully at home in his own
> bed - just as he hoped he would when came his time to leave this
> earth. We've been together 22 years. I discovered what had happened
> when I woke late, saw the time and turned to tell him that we ought to
> get moving.


For Sheena
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us
to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!

Trust in God. Always !

May he rest in peace and may you find peace in rest.