What was suggested to you for the first year about jobs, relationships, etc?

[admin]

What was suggested to you for the first year about jobs, relationships, major changes, etc?

[HL9]

Standard verbiage around here was, "Don't make any major changes the first year." But, you know, AA is about changing our lives. My group seems to give off the vibe that once you get about half the steps done and start to establish a relationship with your HP and others in recovery, you are in position to make proper decisions. We will intuitively know how to handle situations that used to baffle us.

I think the one year mark was used chiefly because folks used to take a year to get through the first five steps, but that's just not the case for everyone now. I've seen relationships work out, both the relationship and both recoveries. I've seen a bartender change jobs, and I've seen one keep tending bar a couple years to finish school. Some folks needed to move from a slippery home. I was fortunate, and I'm a solitary person, so I didn't have any compelling need to make big outside changes.

I still need the tools of prayer, meditation, sponsorship, fellowship, inventory, and self-honesty (examine my motives) before I make a big decision. But once I had these tools, I was ready to start building a better life sober than the one that brought me to AA.

Thanks for your post, it made me do some thinking, and, yes, I'm ready to get another cat!

[angus]

During the first 12 months of my new sobriety I was very concerned about going back to work full time. I was filled with anxiety about finances, my family relationships etc and whether or not I could make the leap back into the stream of life again. I was being encouraged along by some very kind and understanding members of my home group, who could apparently see some potential in me that I couldnt yet see in myself. A member with some time under his belt said this to me, "do you believe in a higher power" I said I was trying to and he said "well, let go and let him help you and everything will be alright". He said this to me in such a convincing way that I had no reason at all to doubt his words. The months and years that followed have proved him to be right.
So, my suggestion is to work hard to find the faith to let go and let God guide and direct us to do his bidding, it does work.