A few days ago, I was in a meeting of the recovery program ETA where someone brought the topic for discussion - how to quit smoking. While ETA is a recovery program, it is a program for those who are trying to keep from boozing and using. Although one can apply the 12 steps to anything you want to change about yourself, ETA is strictly for those wanting to be free from the horror of drugs and alcohol. It says that in the opening statement of every ETA meeting I've ever been in.
There were newcomers in the meeting. Right after the topic was suggested, the manager of the building we meet in said, "That is an outside issue. We discuss sobriety while in this meeting."
Someone started the discussion with his thoughts on tobacco use, tobacco users and the harmful effects of tobacco use. As soon as he shut up, the chairman of the meeting said that the topic would be powerlessness over drugs and alcohol. There were newcomers present, one of whom had 4 days clean and sober.
Someone then started the discussion of powerlessness - over tobacco and food. Gee, I wonder why alcoholics and drug addicts have a reputation for being stubborn and hard headed. The most incredulous part was that this was a smoking meeting!
Then, one of the ETA KGB officers opened a book of recovery. We all trembled because he is somewhat passionate about ETA and recovery. He is very direct and isn't all that concerned with people's feelings. I wondered how the 4 day old newbie would handle the conflict. The ETA KGB proceeded to read from the book where is says that the primary purpose of ETA is to stay clean and sober and show the newcomers how we did it so that they, too, can get clean and sober.
"What you use the 12 steps for is between you and your sponsor and is none of my business. But alcohol is going to kill me long before any of my other vices or habits ever gets a chance to. I came to this meeting to make sure I stay clean and sober; to treat my disease of alcoholism and drug addiction. You want to quit smoking? Find a meeting where that is the purpose. This is about not boozing and using, and that is what we're going to discuss!" 'Well, that cleared it up for me', is what I'm thinking.
A rather tense silence followed his clarification. Then a sweet little voice said, "It was difficult for me to admit I was powerless over alcohol because I couldn't see where my life was unmanageable..." The meeting continued on track.
Going to meetings for treatment of my alcoholism and drug addiction is a life and death matter for me. Don't muck it up. If I don't stay clean and sober, I'll kill everything that matters to me; relationships, reputation and my soul. Then it will kill my body.
God, remind me of my primary purpose, just for today. We will talk about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.
Have a good and sober day.
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Anonymous Danny here: WTH is going on in A.A. meetings lately? Today we had a mother(probably 75 yrs old or so)come to support her daughter. When the discussion came around to her she stated that she didn't have an alcohol problem but that she had stopped smoking years before by just doing other things like running, gardening, cleaning her house, etc, etc, etc. and that is what would work for us to stop drinking. She talked for 5 minutes or more and not once did the chairperson(who has 16+ yrs) stop her and explain that this was about A.A. and just doing something else would not work on us. There were several newcomers in the meeting that I am sure will not come back because they can just go bowling or for a walk everytime they want to drink. I did speak up at the end of the meeting (being as gracious as I could be..lol)explaining that what we need to do is work the program of A.A. with a sponsor and what our primary purpose was and how it only works for us by 1 alky helping another because those who are not afflicted with this disease have no idea what we feel like and how our minds work. I was castigated later for speaking up...go figure..guess I'll just go for a walk. lol
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