Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evolving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
I kept myself safe in early sobriety by going to meetings almost every night, and I live in a rural area, so it took up a couple of hours in the commute. I don't care what anyone says, AA worked for me. I did not trust myself to be alone or not busy, I would go to work, come home, take care of my dogs, and then head out for a meeting. I volunteered to make the coffee at one of my favorite meetings every Tuesday night for a year! I don't listen to people who say it is a cult. Alcohol was my cult. I was a functioning alcoholic but a drunk none the less. I made lifelong friends, I did not go to places that had booze, including family holidays for a few years. God was right there to help me, and I found HIM again in the rooms, 34 years ago. Yes, there were slips, it was okay, I got back in there and recommitted. The thing to strive for is to be humble, booze gives us false security and what we think is courage to get through things. It is a lie. One day at a time, sometimes it's one hour at a time. God has all the power you need in your life.
idle hands truly are the devils the devil's workshop