JUL 10, 20 .. ZOOM MEETINGS ONLINE

Turn around, snap your fingers, and it's now July. Since publishing the last post here, oh my how things have changed.

The new world of  Zoom Meetings has arrived.

Some thoughts about them.

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2020/03/mar-28-20-part-1-of-2-zoomcom-and-my.html

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2020/03/mar-28-20-part-2-of-2-zoomcom-and-my.html

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2020/04/apr-2-20-zoomcom-and-my-second-ever-on.html

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2020/04/apr-9-20-zoomus-and-my-third-on-line.html

There is no question that Zoom Meetings are not the same as live, in-person, meetings. But love them or leave them, for the time being they are-here-to-stay.

Good luck and best wishes.

JAN 31, 20 .. JANUARY .. THE FIRST MONTH .. THE FIRST STEP

Welcome to year 2020. Now ending its first full month.

For those of us 'in recovery', January, the first month of the year, means Step 1.

Step 1 in its most basic sense is the admission that we have a problem. Pure and simple. IF one does not admit, IF one does not know, IF one does not accept the reality of a problem, there can be no solution to the same said problem can there?

Page 30 of the A.A. Big Book, More About Alcoholism, clearly states this:

We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery.

It goes on to state on page 31 that .. 

Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self-deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic.

It is oft said that Step 1 is the only step we can do perfectly.

This brings me to the definition of the word alcoholic.

Again back to page 30 where it states..

We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking.

I feel that many of us honestly believe that we can control our drinking. This flawed thinking causes many to pick up that first drink that begins the cycle of relapse.

For me personally I use the below definition..

I am an alcoholic because I cannot guarantee my actions after I take a drink of alcohol.

Good Luck and Best Wishes in Year 2020.

OCT 30, 19 .. THOUGHTS ON BEING PATIENT AND SPIRITUALITY

On my way to catch a bus here in Ulaanbaatar just the other day, I gave some serious thought to ..

Just For Today .. Just This One Time .. I will NOT be in a rush to catch a bus.

Below is a link to my thoughts.

http://babakaps.net/?p=39067

Appendix II in the Big Book talks about a spiritual awakening or a spiritual experience being a change within us.

Step 6 is about character defects. Being impatient is one of my character defects that I must work at improving. You don't rid yourself of a character defect. You replace it with a character affect.

Just some thoughts should you wish to consider them.

SEP 21, 19 .. ONE GREAT MEETING HERE IN ULAANBAATAR

Large or small, I do-them-all. 

This afternoon, I was invited to share my experience at a small meeting of from three to four members. 

The group is a relatively new group in an area of Ulaanbaatar that does not have many meetings (if any). In order to stay sober, we reach out and help others and this is what an older member did, he began this meeting in an effort to assist those who can not get to other larger meetings.

The meeting is located in a local community (governmental) building and like in Russia, the government fully works with, and supports, our efforts to help those who want help.

The below photos were taken looking back from the doorway you see above.

The meeting room was excellent! Clean and bright with comfortable chairs.

I am one of a two-man team. Without my translator, I have nothing to say. 

We sat in the two chairs in the front. 

I was surprised that the two members of the group who were stetting up the small meeting (three to four members) had so many chairs out.

Looking back at the entrance into the room.

A very nice informational wall hanging for new members to read. 

Goodness! With it being a two-hour meeting, we'd all need some munchies wouldn't we?

Let me tell you! The support that I felt from the three to four members was excellent.

I told the group's leader I'd expected three to four members. He just smiled.

Sign me as..

One of the luckiest members in the entire world.

AUG 26, 19 .. IRKUTSK RUSSIAN SIBERIA .. TELEVISION INTERVIEW

Below is a link to a television interview I recently did in Irkutsk, Russian Siberia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyhVfMRI-g

If you take time to look at it, I hope it helps you in some small way.

Smiles ..

AUG 13, 19 .. SOON I WILL RETURN TO ULAANBATTAR ..

I remain up in Irkutsk Russian Siberia.

However this upcoming Tuesday, September the 10th, I will arrive (God Be Willing) back in Ulaanbaatar coming by train from Irkutsk.

It will be so nice to be back and to see so many of you my friends.

Smiles..

FEB 25, 19 .. STEP TWO ..

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter 5, How It Works, page 59, states :

Step 2 .. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

As I have mentioned from time-to-time, my original sponsor, Bill B from Los Angeles, also addicted to drugs, had a sponsor. This would make Bill's sponsor my 'Grand Sponsor'.

Bill's sponsor was Clarence Henry Snyder from Cleveland, Ohio, who's story, the Home Brewmeister, was in the second and third additions of our AA Big Book.

Clarence got sober in March of 1938, upstairs in Doctor Bob's home, beside the bed, on his knees, asking God for help and praying.

I point this out for this simple reason : In March of 1938, the AA Big Book had not yet been written, let alone published and distributed to the early AA members.

So from Bill B and Clarence I received a somewhat different message about the steps and the recovery process.

I was taught to say Step 2 thusly : Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us from the insanity of the first drink.

To this day, to this moment, I prefer this version (being restored from the insanity of the first drink) of the second step than as published in the Big Book.

Last month, writing about Step 1, I talked about being in a High School Latin class and my not knowing that I could not read the words on the blackboard because of being near-sighted.

http://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2018/01/jan-30-18-january-step-one.html

Suddenly, realizing that I had a problem and could not read the writing on the blackboard, could I solve that issue myself? No I could not.

This is all that Step 2 is! Realizing (in Step 1) that I had a problem that I could NOT (Step 2) solve myself. I needed to see an optometrist and get fitted for eye glasses! In AA we need to find God and get some help with our alcoholism.

Simple huh? We are making far too much out of the steps. 

I have a problem (Step 1) and I need help (Step 2) to solve my problem.