Medicine Hat A.A. Round Up
Sept 10, 11, 12.
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.
For more info please contact, no_more_no_les

GOLD COAST CONVENTION OF NA XXI
HALLOWEEN SPEAKER BASH & PARTY FUNDRAISER
SATURDAY OCT. 30th, 2010 @ ST. MARTINS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
140 SOUTHEAST 28TH AVE., POMPANO BEACH, FL
(ATLANTIC AVE & THE INTERCOASTAL)
TIME: SPEAKER BASH AT 2:00PM  -  MAIN SPEAKERS 8:00PM – 9:15PM
HALLOWEEN DANCE TO FOLLOW
FOOD, FUN, MUSIC, FELLOWSHIP, COSTUME CONTEST
TICKETS: $20.00-INCLUDES RAFFLE FOR 3 NIGHT HOTEL STAY & MEAL $10.00 FOR 3 NIGHT HOTEL STAY ONLY
$5.00 - HAMBURGER, HOT DOG, CHIPS & SODA
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CYNTHIA @ 954-288-4818

WWW.GOLDCOASTNA.ORG

NA IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ST. MARTINS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Submitted by dbeede on August 27, 2010

I got introduced to this program in jail while serving a 1 year sentence in 2003 (which COULD  have been a 10 year bid in prison). I was at the end of the road, but still not thoroughly convinced I had to quit using. I was looking for a way to avoid prison, and I found it. The judge sentenced me to AA as part of my probation; when I found that insufficient, I asked my Probation officer about attending NA instead.

Being a common street junkie with no ties to anyone or anything substantial, and since I’d never learned common living skills like communication, my journey’s been difficult, but that difficulty’s been of my own making. At first, I didn’t want to change people, places and things, which led me out the door in 3 months. Then I DID change those things, but didn’t work a program, just went to meetings; of course, I went back out.

After finally finding a sponsor who was compatible, I began working some steps. I began following suggestions; I went to meetings every day, got phone numbers, bought ALL the books and got a home group. Things started improving. I got a job with someone in recovery who had double digit years and his own business. I lived with a recovering addict with double digit clean time. Things were looking up except for one “minor” problem.

By now, the more experienced members are picking apart this story because there are holes in it without a doubt. The things I was doing were commendable, but it was the things I WASN’T doing that led me back out with 3 years clean.

I was going to meetings; hell, I was even sharing, but I was NOT sharing HONESTLY about where I was at and what was going on with me. I worked steps, but only half-assed and not to the best of my ability. I had ALL the books, but hardly ever picked ‘em up. I had enough phone numbers to make my own phone book, but dialed ‘em so seldom, you might as well say I NEVER used ‘em. I did NO service work in any capacity. I went to events, but never talked to people, I’d bring my radio and my own tunes and sit off by myself. I ate and ran for all intensive purposes.

I was actually starting to enjoy some of the fruits of recovery when I got blind-sided by my own ignorance (”The disease”,if that’s what you prefer). I met an attractive young lady in my age range who showed interest in me. I was 100% antisocial on the streets, so a woman wasn’t part of my past; I didn’t see that as a possibility.

By now,you can see where this is going. I stopped going to meetings, stopped connecting with the few friends I DID call, etc, etc… and went back out over a perceived relationship and a resentment with an addict in “recovery” who screwed me on a job. I went so far as to move out of state with these people.

Through my higher power’s grace (whatever you choose to call it, I don’t label it, I just know IT IS), and with some help from addicts back home, I made it back after a month. During that month, I watched these folks drink and argue every day, but I refrained. I called my sponsor (who stuck by me despite my foolish decision) and a couple other recovering addicts.

Once I got home, I started hitting meetings again (there was NONE available where I was unless you had wheels). After a month, I moved in with my sponsor and his family temporarily.

I went to meetings every day, started sharing as honestly as I could and even did something I’d never done before; I started LIVING the steps. Writing on the 12 steps is only part of the process; learning how to apply them is another important aspect. I actually started USING  my sponsor and support group(as well as other recovering addicts I only saw on occasion). I started getting serious about making changes; not because I WANTED to, but because I didn’t care for the alternatives.

One of those 3 members who kept me clean when I was out of state passed away 5 months after I got back. I’d been through death many times in my addiction and dealt with it in various ways, but this time I dealt with it and remained clean. I could see the changes taking place slowly.

Today, I use all my resources. I go to that one extra meeting talk that one extra minute on the phone, do service in my home group as well as stay connected to other recovering addicts online, etc.

As long as I remain vigilant and work my program to the best of my ability, things get a little better every day. And as long as I continue in this manner (and with the grace of my higher power), I’ll be celebrating 2 years again next month :)

Submitted by wadenewme on August 27, 2010

I began going to meetings back when the first young peoples meetings began in the San Francisco, San Mateo areas around 1972.  I knew I was a alcoholic as I got into trouble every time I drank, the juvenile hall became my second home.  I was a ward of the state and all I wanted was for the bad things to stop happening every time I drank.  I started going to 12 step meetings in the facility in the county I lived in and then upon release I began my introduction to the meetings and the Program in earnest.  I liked meetings and had a tough time introducing myself as a person, introverted as I was, that is primarily why I drank, so I could interact with my peers.  I tried the meetings and found a few principles I not only did not understand but was not willing to give an open mind to.  Spirituality, a door knob was not such an outlandish idea but, I settled for nature and as long as I went to meetings and changed the friends I hung with I did ok but, not long would go by when I would either become bored or angry one led to the other I would choose to continue drinking in hopes I would not do something stupid.  No such luck,  I continued this pattern in my life for another 35 years.  My life was characterized by countless vain attempts to drink like other people with disastrous results.  I spent approx. 25 years incarcerated for crimes I committed while intoxicated or strung out on drugs, attempt after attempt, meeting after meeting, sponsors galore and many half hearted attempts to work the steps in my life. During those years I studied philosophy and religions in a search for a God of my understanding, nothing worked until one day long after Id been deemed a career criminal and about to be sentenced to 100 years in a western state, did I get “it” what ever in the hell that was, I discovered there was a God and I was not “IT” as He saved me from my last best attempt to have myself institutionalized once and for all.  The judge let me go, and I headed south and east and found myself in paradise.

I continued to chip but not drink and Id go into AA meetings and swear up and down I was sober even though I smoked pot and smoked crack on the weekends.  I actually was convinced as I did not end up in jail as a result, that went on for a little over a year until one day I drank and ended up in jail one more time, I got a stint of probation and a new lease on life.  I have now been clean for 14 months.  The first honest year I have ever had.  Today I have a sponsor and a home group and do what service  an anti-social mad man can do, and I work my steps and live the principles of the NA program.  The one lesson I learned there was that I had to learn to survive my emotions in order to get and stay clean, with the help of a loving God and the 12 steps I am progressing well and one day at a time I will stay clean, but I am definitely not one of those people who could “Just don’t pick up no matter what” hell if I could have done that I would not have needed NA.

My name is Wade I am an addict.

Submitted by GodPillow_Lady on August 27, 2010

A lot has happened this year… The GODpillow Tour has taken me the AA International Convention in San Antonio, TX – even weathered the outer bands of Hurricane Alex that hit Mexico.  It poured most of the time, but as you all know that doesn’t stop US!

Oh!  What did you say?  What’s a GODpillow?  I am sorry I got all excited and forgot to introduce myself to those of you who don’t have one, or haven’t met me.  My name is Cindy and I am THE GODpillow Lady.  Back in 2003, life brought me to my knees – go figure, and I found Alcoholic Anonymous once again.  I remembered what kept me sober the first time and went back to basics.  It was the painful knee-thing that hindered my prayer life.  So I came up with a prototype…and voila!  It all came together and have successful sold GODpillows all over the country. Not only can you kneel in prayer, one can also sit in meditation yoga-style. The bottom line is to be still…get centered, find the silence that is already there, and there in the silence  sitting on the steps of your soul…..you will connect to your Higher Power. That’s the hardest thing for me - to be still. Being sober has given me a life beyond my expectations, I am a contributing member of society, I travel and I meet people like you!  Most importantly sharing the  “healing power” of prayer and meditation.

Life is good…

So Off to Cape Cod Symposium in September, then to Florida and then who knows?  Well…this I do know, I am sober, a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous, I help people get comfortable to get centered, and I can help you too! Check out:  http://www.godpillow.com

A person just like you,
Cindy the GODpillow Lady

Submitted by BenBen The Fisherman on August 27, 2010

Submitted by Cori on August 20, 2010

When I was 13 years old I went to my very first “Rock n Roll” concert.  The band, Aerosmith.  Since that day they were the ONLY band for me and the lead singer, Steven Tyler, well, he was and is still a rock God (at least in my eyes).  Throughout the years my love for Aerosmith and Steven Tyler has grown, you could even say I am obsessed.  I own every CD, all albums that are on vinyl, several collector’s items, even a tattoo.

Last year I had an opportunity to enter a contest where I would have the opportunity to win a meet and greet with the man himself, Steven Tyler.  I wrote a story of my struggles thru the disease of addiction and submitted it to the contest.  My friends at “In The Rooms” heard about it and knew how much winning this would mean to me so they let me post a link to the voting and lo and behold… I WON!

Well, if anyone is familiar with the Aerosmith “sagas” of the past you will know that the concert was cancelled and so was my opportunity.  Well, I didn’t give up.  When the new tour was announced I called and asked if my “prize” would be honored for this tour.  I was told that it was only for last year’s tour and they would not be honoring it.  Still not giving up hope, about 3 weeks before the show I got a call that they would be giving me my prize.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was really going to meet Steven Tyler.  I have been waiting my whole life for this.

August 9th, 2010 was one of the greatest days of my entire life.  I spent all day getting ready, Brian in the background laughing at me the whole time.  We got to the arena and went to a Pre-show VIP party where the drummer for Aerosmith, Joey Kramer did a Q&A, took pictures and signed autographs.  Then it was time to go… it was time to meet Steven.  My heart was racing, my palms were sweating, and my knees were shaking.  This was better than any drug I ever did.  We got to spend a few minutes talking to him after he signed some autographs and took some pictures.  I told him how happy I was that he was clean again and that he was back in the rooms, I told him I was also in recovery and he told me to “keep my nose clean”.  Brian told him “thanks for keeping my girl crazy for all these years”.

This was one night I will never forget. I want to thank RT, Kenny and Alex for helping me and for all the members of ITR who voted for me and help make one of my dreams come true.

Peace, Love and Aerosmith,
Cori M.

Submitted by No_More_No_Les on August 20, 2010

Some of you may remember my friend and many of yours, her member name was “and_it_is_Annie.” Annie lost her battle with cancer on Nov. 14th, 2009. I was her sponsor, however she taught me the greatest lesson. That is the spirit to forgive.

When Annie was 14 years old, her parents were killed by a drunk driver. The lost of her parents and the resentment she carried took her down many roads, that we all know. Annie was raised by her Grandparents, and she rebelled.

By the time Annie was 19 she had a story of the street, and all that goes with it. She was hitchhiking through Northern Ontario and some trucker pic her up. When she got in that rig, the driver asked her where she was going. Annie said, “I don’t know.” She never knew how much truth was in that statement. Because that trucker was me~!

I had a speaker tape on, not loud, just background noise. And Annie started telling me her story. It was one of heartache, despair and anger. I just listened, as she told me about her parents getting killed and how she let her life get ruined because of it.

I asked her, if she would like a better life, one where she could help people, just like her. I told her about my life and where it took me and that she can have what I and many people have. That night we went for dinner and then took in a meeting, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She had her last drink, at dinner that night.

Annie rode with me for over four months. We drove all over the country and went to meetings. There was never anything sexual, for she had the top bunk and I had mine on the bottom. She asked me one night, why I never tried anything with her. I told her, that it would kill me if, I lost her friendship and if anything I done caused her to give up her new way of life. It is sad, but Annie told me, that this was the first time anybody cared for her, just as a person.

When Annie was two years sober, she went hunting. She found the person that killed her parents. She used to follow him, and some of us were worried she was going to do something. Well Annie done something alright. She would follow him to the bar, and at closing she would go in and get him. She would give him a ride home. And in the morning she would pick him up and take him to his car. Whenever she was driving him home, in his ’state’, he would tell her about the people he killed. Annie would just listen.

This taxi thing went on for about six months. Then one night Annie asked him if he would like to go for coffee, the next night. She told him, she would pick him up, and asked if he would not drink that day. He said yes.

Annie picked him out and she took him for coffee, and it was then that Annie told him who she was. And that it was her parents, that he had killed. She told him her “story” and asked if he would like a new life. She said he could have a life where he could help people just like him.

They went to a meeting that night and Rob has never had a drink since. They have spoken together at many A.A. functions. And The Message of Forgiveness was felt in everyone’s heart many times.

Sadly on November 14th, 2009, we lost Annie to cancer. Rob was there for the last three weeks of Annie’s fight, and he was holding her hand when she passed away. Rob spoke at Annie’s memorial, and he spoke on her forgiveness and how she lived this program with gratitude and humility. He talked about how Annie gave him his greatest gift. And that was the gift of “forgiveness.”

I miss Annie and think about her allot. I think about her most, when I am upset with some person, or something. I think about the “spirit to forgive!”

Annie, Rest in Peace and may GOD Bless Your Soul, the way you have Blessed so many of us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Annie, I love You, Les~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Submitted by TheGlimmaMan on August 20, 2010

Chapter 1 - “And the truth shall set you free”

New york, New York the city that never sleeps. Housing the man that never sleeps. The tunnel is still dark, and the tunnel is going deeper this is surely no rabbit hole, and there is no wonderland to be found. Im digging deeper to a point of no return. What is this obsession why wont it lift? She is dead to you, you mean nothing to her…let it fade, let it fade. Some memories were designed to fade away, but this one wont. Even with heroin coursing through my veins, the pain still remains. I  haven’t become comfortably numb. Awash in guilt, seething with remorse. So desperate…So Alone..So scared..Please God  I beg of you take this pain away.

This is my life the greatest story never told, and its all a lie. Who am I? What am I? An addict on the brink of destruction. A scared little boy, trapped in a mans body. Who else wonders, is this really it? Is this all life really is? Struggle after struggle, mistake after mistake, heartache, pain, suffering. Where is the freedom and joy Im supposed to feel? Its not at the bottom of a bottle, and yet I still smile with an empty soul. Its out there somewhere. Long and hard I search, am I looking in the right place? Probably not. My life, my true life is buried somewhere in a maze of lies and deceit. Lies so vast and unimaginable yet so powerful that they have become what I believe. Pure fantasy that I have created through the years, to make myself believe it really is what I am, and all I will ever do. The evil angel. A man so powerful, so strong, so smart, so very sick, that believes the world revolves around him.

A tortured soul lost in limbo since childhood. Creating a twisted paradise in his own mind, and stuck in between my perception of reality and what really is reality. Even then I question the reality Im supposed to face, because of of the way the world is spun and manipulated by those who aren’t sick like me. Those who are supposedly well. A world we are supposed to fear and respect. This isn’t about the world though, its about me. My fears, my life not those of everyone else. What was that small tangent I just flew off on? Ahh yes, anything to take the focus off me. The honesty of my lies was becoming apparent. Although how does one get honest about lying? The real challenge lies ahead. How do you unravel 25 years of lies and knit a sweater of truth? This is a road I fear to travel. When I look in the mirror I see the eyes of a hollow man. I must fill my soul with something pure. I must find Brian. He was born on Dec 9th 1977 and his spirit and soul died the day the first lie was told. Something else filled in the void from that day forward. Reclaim whats mine. Seize the day. Live damn you live! Feel, laugh, cry, smile. Just be and be no more. It begins with you and will die with you. Don’t become one of the many, become one of the few. Find Brian, introduce him to the world. Make peace with your maker and free the sickness within. We do get better, we live, we love, we can prosper. Brian can too. Please hear this, please know this, believe this, become this. I can only fail if I try. If I do to the best of my ability I will succeed. In the end it truly does matter. I love you Brian, I love you….

Submitted by BenBen The Fisherman on August 20, 2010