Beth
Homegroup: Rule 62 ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously’ Online meeting
Contact: secretary@aasouthmidlands.org.uk
“Hi there, I’m Beth and I’m an alcoholic. This admission was the first step in my journey of sobriety and I can honestly say it is the best admission I have ever made. I have made many bad ones!
I came into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous during Covid19 (June 2019 to be precise). That strange time catapulted me into another dimension of alcoholism which I thought I could avoid or would not affect me. I couldn’t have been more wrong! AA was a last resort for me and thankfully, I have not picked up a drink, a day at a time, thanks to the programme of alcoholics anonymous. So long as I put as much effort into AA as I did my drinking, god willing, I should continue to enjoy a sober life which I must say, is just lovely!
Strictly speaking, my home group is Rule62 (also known as ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously’). I still struggle with that at times. I was directed to my first online meeting via the Chat Now Service where a fellow alcoholic asked me whether I had the desire to stop drinking. My answer was yes and he guided me to my first AA meeting. I later learned a desire to stop drinking is the only requirement for AA membership! All I can say is that I have never felt so at home talking to a group of alcoholics who understand my disease. I knew instantly that I was in the right place.
I owe so much to AA. It has given me a second chance at life. I want to be alive today! If you asked me that question back in June 2019, my answer would have been somewhat different.
There are three main pillars of AA which are shown in the AA symbol at the top left of this page as you read; Unity (meetings), Service (any service position within AA), Recovery (working the 12 steps of recovery set out in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous). I need to do each of these things to be in and maintain good physical, mental and spiritual condition. I know when I am not in that good state as I find the alcoholisms start taking over which isn’t nice to say the least.
In my early days of sobriety, it was sternly suggested that I take on a service position where I can. Service positions to date have included teas and coffees, welcoming newcomers, literature person, speaker seeker, I have been the chair of the Rule 62 online zoom meeting, Oxford Friday Night Step Meeting and am currently chair of the Oxford Friday Breakfast Meeting. I have been actively involved in arranging Christmas Day celebrations at Polstead Road for the last two years and I was recently approached and asked whether I was interested in taking on the role of secretary for South Midlands Intergroup. My initial thoughts when I was approached for the service position at SMIG was that I already have a service position and therefore do I really need to take on another one. Also, can I actually fit it into my busy schedule generally. Very shortly, on reflection, I remembered what AA has given me and what our main purpose is “to carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic”. I realised that I had no good reason for not taking on the role and so I accepted the service position with gratitude.
Being an active member of SMIG has exposed me to further depths of AA and how it works. I like to think of SMIG as one of the engine rooms in AA much like other fundamental aspects of the fellowship. Without it, AA wouldn’t function as it does today.
Whilst having a service position (or 2) is important, it is just as important that I pass on my service position to the next alcoholic seeking service given the important part service plays in maintaining sobriety. The Service position of Christmas Day Organiser is therefore up for grabs if anyone is interested!
It is a pleasure to serve as secretary for SMIG and should anyone have any questions, please do get in touch via the email address below.