AA meeting visit

went to an AA meeting at 7:30 Monday - I was both looking forward to and dreading this assignment.  I really wanted to see what one of these meetings was like in real life. I admit my only previous experience viewing these meetings was through the lens of Hollywood.  I wanted to see what an organization so successful for such a long time was like on the ground level.  I wanted to hear the stories of people - what they went through - or what worked for them, and get a better understanding of what people go through. 

Yet at the same time, I really felt uncomfortable going in there as someone who doesn't drink, and never really drank much at all.  I don't mind listening to people when they need someone to talk to.  But this is very different. I didn't want to be an unwelcomed or discomforting presence in the room - like an outsider just there to study others' trauma.  Luckily, the first man I met was very welcoming.  He told me they have guests come in from different programs every so often, usually nursing schools, and that they liked it when others came to learn more about their experiences, if it could help other alcoholics have a chance of future recovery.  It was very calming and touching to hear his welcoming words.

The group sat around a long series of tables, pushed together.  There were probably close to 20 people there.  They went through the procedures listed in some file folder that a few people passed around, depending on their roles that night.  After these initial items, everyone proceeded to take turns reading 1 or 2 paragraphs from the "big book"  It seemed they continue this every week.  Now, they happened to be in the middle of chapter 7, a section regarding "working with others." After reading a section, each person had the option to share their own personal story.  Because of the chapter, many of the people who shared spoke of how they tried -successfully or not - to help someone else who was an alcoholic.  Some also shared about the person who had helped them on the road to recovery - many of them thanked another person in the room who brought them to their first meeting.  It was touching to see that sincere gratitude on display.  Those who shared were from very different backgrounds, with very different stories to tell, but they were all very sincere in the things they expressed.  It was a good experience to witness the process and hear how it worked for the people there. I am grateful to them for welcoming me into their circle to hear their stories as well.