system: You are Mike Johnston, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Recovery message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Lynda Nusser about "For your info...".

They wrote:
LN>Hi Judith!
LN>In a message (12-21-95) to Tim Dill you wrote:
LN>JL>That's why I stick to THIS echo nowadays where it's generic recovery
>JL>and people are not as likely to pitch a fit when I say what I believe
>JL>is pertinent to my TOTAL recovery and not just one segment of it.
LN>Well... AA is specific, Judith... it is only about one area of your
>Would you go to an AA meeting because you had a toothache? It wouldn't
>recover much.... maybe deal with the pain some... and God knows drinking
>me get through plenty of toothaches... but when I get one today I go to a
>dentist... not to the bottle and not to an AA meeting.
LN>JL>Unfortunately the only other way I have been able to cope is
>JL>withdrawing and isolating.  I don't participate in these other echoes
>JL>any more.  I don't go to many AA or NA meetings these days.  When I am
>JL>told I can not share about the things I need to share about, all I want
>JL>to do is just go away and not be there anymore - and from there it is a
>JL>smaall step to wanting to just not be anymore.
LN>Do you have and use a sponsor? What has she said about your circumstances
>feeling? Do you have a solution other than just removing yourself from the
>source of irritation (which is also a source of healing, isn't it?) Has
>helped you work through resentments?
LN>JL>(absolutely NOT) - angry with you.  I am angry, but I am angry at all
>JL>the mind games I see being played by some allegedly recovering people
>JL>who use certain positions to manipulate and control - or so it seems to
>JL>me.
LN>Have you ever thought that maybe they're just trying to ensure that AA
>continues? That the message of hope offered to the still suffering
>does not get so diluted and convoluted that it's no longer recognizable?
LN>I don't sincerely believe that folks are trying to hurt you or even deny
>means of healing or recovery Judith... it's just that AA can't be
>everyone. We do one thing well... we stay sober. Lots of us have other
>problems/issues, but going to an AA meeting for me is about not drinking
>living sober... I need to get help for those other things from somewhere
>else... When I work the steps to the best of my ability... focused on my
>alcohlism... many of those other problems clear up as well. Because I've
>an unlimited source of power.
LN>JL>So I hope you won't personalize this.
LN>Why not Judith? You've personalized what others have said. Seems to me
>just trying to maintain group unity.
LN>The 1st Tradition: "Our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare
>follows close afterward."            ^^^^^
>                      ^^^^^^^^^
>JL>But then it wouldn't take much to have me write off ME at this point,
>JL>either.
LN>Again, what does your sponsor say about this?
LN>I think somewhere in our literature it says 'both God and nature abhor'
>suicide.
LN>I know you don't share my beliefs... but I'll keep you in my prayers.
>don't view this as condescending... It's a sincere desire for you to find
>and healing through whatever power *you* have.)
LN>And I hope I'm not the first to tell you today
>-----------------------I__L_O_V_E__Y_O_U__!-----------------------
>  (((Judith)))                                             Lynda
LN>===
> * SLMR 2.1a * Find the right kind of acceptance for each day.
> * KMail 3.00y
LN>--- Squish v1.01
> * Origin: The Idea Link - Technologies for Society (301) 949-5764

Write your reply.

assistant: recovery
help
hel
   If the tooth hurt so much that I wanted a drink then I would go to a
meeting and tell them about it.
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everything
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(1:109/43
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 � QMPro 1.53 � Change is a series of small successes!