The Power of Connection: What Makes Your Home Group Special?

I currently do not have a Home Group, I have in past but unfortunately it folded. What I liked it was so welcoming. I drove 30 minutes each way to attend. There are few groups I attended regularly that I like, and here is why:
- Welcoming, especially to new members.
- Mix of sobriety length, new members and others with lot of experience.
- Celebrate anniversaries, where else can people congratulate you for being sober.
- Many people know each other, shows members keep coming back.
- Organized - most meetings are
- Mix of readings, but not to many. Do not like is when spend 20 minutes of meeting doing readings. Takes away from discussions.

I use to be afraid about walking into a new meeting alone, but once in door, fear went away. I tell myself I was never afraid to walk into a bar by myself, a meeting is a much safer space. You can sit and just listen.

If you attend one do not like, try a few times or look for another meeting.

22 years sober in AA. The old timers reminded me that l wasn't there to critique a group... we all have the common denominator, when it comes to the bottle we are on an equal playing field. Wasn't there to spend months 'shopping' for a sponsor... there is no perfect one. Its surprising what we can learn by listening to someone share that we don't particularly like.. Sometimes it helps us what not to do if we want quality sobriety. As the Big Book says "Acceptance is the key to all of my problems today." Just because you "accept" that something is, does not mean you have to agree with it. Don't drink and go to meetings, most of all, keep coming back.

Ps get a Home group,get a sponsor. Our founders Bob and Bill would be the first to say.. there is no perfect one of either. If you have a choice fine. If there are only one or two meetings in town and you don't like either, go anyway. I guarantee you will hear something you were meant to hear. Take care of yourself and do the things you are supposed to do and you will be a "power of example" to others.

My home group is held in a church on the edge of a town of 150 people.

There is a wealth of recovery there. Not just sober or clean time but recovery.
It is welcoming, especially to the newcomer.
It follows the traditions as best as we can, supports the area as best as we can.
We keep the topics related to recovery.
We start on time and keep our primary purpose focusing on the addict who still suffers.
We give away basic texts to anyone that comes to our meeting and asks for one.
We are the epitome of hugs not drugs. It is the best meeting in Minnesota.

Well said, my sponsor reminds me to get out of 'the self' and remember that the newcomer is the most important person in the room. You may be the only Big Book that someone 'hears' that Day. Thanks for keeping it simple Minnesota, sometimes the chaos of the world distracts us from our Primary Purpose...to help others achieve sobriety One Day at a Time. Take care.