[SOS-Boston] Meeting, Jan 27

[Neal F <liferingbbbos gmail com>]

Hi everyone

We get together again tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5:30.  I included directions below, at bottom.

I also did a copy/paste of a post from a person (a woman) on an email list I'm on, run by LifeRing.  If it's the kind of thing that resonates with you and you think it might be helpful to be on the list and hear this kind of talk, let me know and I'll give you the details.

I hope you can make it to the meeting.

--Neal

--------------------------------------------------
I catch myself drifting into so many unhelpful attitudes or feelings at
times -- and so many of them are linked to the desire for instant
solutions or comfort or escapism.

It isn't about being harsh towards the part of myself that feels lost
and uncertain, turning back to that dreaded old familiar pattern. I'm
thinking more about recognising that certain emotions or lines of
reasoning are unhelpful when we are learning to stay sober. 

Feeling I
deserve a drink for some reason. Feeling sorry for myself and not understanding that self-pity
undermines sober autonomy. Feeling helpless and passive and wanting to
be rescued, waiting for my life to get better all by itself. Sulking
about some broken relationship or hurtful comment and holding grudges
instead of dealing with the problem or moving on. Letting myself
daydream about unrealistic and grandiose schemes. Thinking that a
therapist or mentor will do the work for me, that it is really their
problem to solve. Blaming people who let me down and not looking at my
poor skills in judging character, using blame as an excuse to consider
drinking because nobody seems trustworthy. Feeling I would rather die
drunk than have to endure boredom.

They are all slightly absurd little thoughts and feelings that sneak up
on me if I am tired or having a difficult day. I now listen for the
slight whine in my inner voice, something childish or self-hating. Then
I refocus and shift the energies, just remind myself of the priorities,
try to get back to healthier thinking. Do some exercise, talk to
someone, have a long bath, make a salad or a cup of green tea.

What matters is being sober, staying sober and  building a new identity in a better life.

______________________________

The meeting is at Northeastern University on Wednesdays, the room is booked from 5:30-7:00. The meeting takes place in the "Reflection Room" at Northeastern University, which is right next to the "Sacred Space".  Here is some text on how to get there:

http://www.northeastern.edu/spirituallife/contact.html

It's easy to get to by T, a minute walk from the Northeastern stop on the Green Line, or about 5 minute walk from either the Ruggles or Mass Ave stops on the Orange Line.  Parking can be an issue, but if you apply yourself, you can find street parking.  Let me know if you have parking concerns.

Here's a map of the whole campus:

http://northeastern.edu/campusmap/map/index.html

The meeting is in building #52.