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"Our stories disclose in a general way, what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now..." Here are some of ours...Jim B - 12/25/1976 "There are those too who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest."It was the summer of 1978. I had finally hit my spiritual bottom in the program. Had been going to meetings and remained clean and sober for just over 18 months. I was at the point of filling my apartment with booze so I could just drink myself to death. Hadn't made any changes inside... hadn't really worked the steps. Had only given lip service to easier-softer ways to work them that I had heard at step meetings. Before I took that final step toward death by alcoholism, I found a sponsor who spoke constantly of having worked the steps the way it was described in the Big Book. After getting instructions (straight out of the Big Book) for preparation of steps 3 and 4, he then told me I was going to Whitney and that I'd be traveling there with his sponsor. Who knew? I did what I was told... remember, this was the last straw for me. During the first 24 hours of the conference all I saw was the inside of his motorhome and these loving, happy people who wanted nothing more than to shower me with hugs every time I took a break from my writing. Somewhere during the writing, I came to truly believe that a Power greater than myself was indeed restoring me to sanity, even though I'd never been sane before (Tough to figure out, wonderful to experience!)! I reached a point where I knew that I was the hole in the donut. Without a hole, a donut does not exist, so the hole is essential to a pastry becoming and continuing to be a donut. However, the whole is really nothing. That is me. In and of myself, I am nothing. But, by removing the clutter, junk, and garbage, I became whole and complete and God's light now shines through me onto everyone I meet and in every situation I encounter. I found a God who works for me in my life. I found myself. And I found you loving people at the conference at the Redwood Lodge, Lake Whitney, Texas! This conference is my life! It's my home group. I have traveled extensively and have been to meetings in numerous states, countries, and on a couple of continents. But my heart and soul remain anchored in Whitney. I have come to Whitney to celebrate life's wonderful rewards. I have come to Whitney to cry, whine, dump, bitch, and get healed by your love and acceptance... and honest feedback, when life seemed to have dealt cruel and savage blows. I have come here when I was spiritually at wit's end and gotten my direction back. I have even come when things were going along so-so and been able to charge my spiritual batteries even more. Perhaps the best part is that over the past 29+ years, I have gotten to re-connect with the people who make the Whitney Experience possible. People like you! Before Whitney, I'd never had friends very long... only as long as I could use them up. I've got more friends that are true, close, unconditionally loving friends than I can count... and they mostly all came from the conference at Lake Whitney, Texas. Just going to meetings is not enough for me. I need continual re-charges of the love and acceptance, and of God's wonderful healing power that I originally found here at the conference. It's still here and I've seen it happen for thousands more over the years. I was someone who didn't fit in anywhere in AA, NA, OA, or Al-Anon. I was un-reachable, mainly because of how much untouchable pain I carried inside of me. The conference, actually the loving people who come here, gave me the support to let it all go, to trust God, and to let down my walls and let others inside. My wish is that I can pay back a fraction of what this conference, you people, and, of course, HP has given me. I wish a Whitney Experience on everyone who feels out of place, even in AA; everyone who thinks he's too phurcked up to deserve healing, happiness, and love; and everyone who is at the end of his/her rope and could really use a miracle. Don't wait until you are together to come to Whitney... we'll do that for ya! Just come. ----------- Jim B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Your story belongs here... if/when you get off your butt, write it, and send it to us!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Your story belongs here... if/when you get off your butt, write it, and send it to us!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please send us your story. Tell us what this conference means to you. You can email it to info@youngmindsaaconference.com. Thanks to everyone for sharing!For more information, to send your contributions, or to ask for help, direct all inquiries to info@youngmindsaaconference.com
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