AA is cool.

It's basically a free fellowship to help people recover from alcoholism. There's some variation from group to group, but I'll give you the basics.

Before the meeting, people will be hanging out and socializing drinking lots of coffee and usually smoking a lot of cigarettes. If you are there significantly early a few people who don't recognize you might introduce themselves to you they might suspect you're a newcomer, and they're just genuinely trying to help you feel welcome.

The main meeting room will have lots of chairs and will be a few chairs in the front for the leaders. The leaders are just regular members who have volunteered to lead. They are just regular alcoholics working on recovery. When the meeting starts it will usually go in this order:

1. Recite Serenity Prayer.
2. Reading of the 12 steps.
3. Reading of the 12 traditions.
4. Reading of The Promises.
5. Reading of a daily devotional.
6. Open sharing - people can just start off saying who they are and either tell a story from their experience that relates to the daily devotional or really say anything they want. If it's a busy meeting it's probably a courteousness to limit your sharing to about five minutes. You are really expected to just talk about your own experience. You don't want to get into giving advice or what's called crosstalk by addressing someone who's already shared directly.

This open sharing will go on for about 45 minutes and will be the bulk of the meeting. As a newcomer you don't have to say anything you might ask to be recognized you might share like normal but you can just do whatever makes you most comfortable.

If you do share you will start off by saying who you are first name only. If you don't some people might stop you and ask "who are you?" As it's just a courtesy to let them know your first name it's up to you if you declare yourself alcoholic or not.

You can absolutely go to as many meetings as you want and not ever say one word. It is perfectly fine to simply go and listen. One thing that is often explained to the newcomers is to listen for similarities in what others are sharing and not get lost in the differences.

Normally, you only share if you want in a dive in format. Sometimes a meeting will go around the room. If you are asked to share, you can just say "I'm just here to listen thank you." And they will move on.

It's important to understand that each person in that meeting had to be a newcomer once, and they want to be warm and friendly to help you. They know its scary, particularly sharing or even showing up without a buzz on.

7. Chip Ceremony. Chips will be given to celebrate times of continuous sobriety. If you like the ideas, you can pick up a white chip and get a hug. Its total honor system. Some people pick up dozens of white chips and its all cool to struggle especially early.

8. Pass Collection Hat. Most people put in a few dollars to cover literature and such. Newcomers are asked not to give.

9. Lords Prayer and Close. Some super progressive groups skip the prayer. Some hold hands or count off. Not a big deal.

Afterwards, more socializing. Some people have a coffee group and go hang out. You do have a chance to network and find sober friends if you want.

If you heard someone of your gender share things you really relate to, you can talk to them. You might even find a sponsor or someone you can call to help you get to meetings and support for staying sober. There's no pressure. No judging.

This was a lot to type out on ipad. I hope you try a meeting or two and hear some good information. PM me if you need.

moogs