The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I've been in al-anon for about 4-5 months now. I used to go to anywhere from 5 meetings a week to 1. Unfortunately, I live out in the country and the nearest meeting is a half hour away. Obviously when I was going to 5 a week I was really focusing and drilling the program into my head and devoting a big chunk of my life to it!
I've only gone to one f2f meeting within the past month because I'm 40 weeks pregnant and I've just been busy with preparing for baby (yay!) and school. Driving so far to a meeting has been scary for me, what if I go into labor alone on a country road? lol
My question is, do any of you have sponsors you only know via the internet? Is that a crazy concept or is it something that would work? I'd really like to start working the steps now that I'm used to the concepts of al-anon, but I don't know how to go about getting someone to sponsor me!
Any response would be helpful. Thanks for reading!
Susie, it is my understanding that many people have online sponsors. The suggestion I received was to spend some time interacting on the message board, and identify someone who you related to and seems to approach her life and her recovery the way you do. Then...ask!
Good luck, and wishing you an easy labor and delivery! And I love your photo...I have a dachshund, too!
Absolutely it is done. Usually requires quite a bit of telephone interaction and I prefer to meet in person - but hey - work with what you have! I think it is fantastic that you are willing to find alternatives that work.
tlc
__________________
To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.
Susie, My first sponsor was online and it was an amazing experience. I worked my first round through the steps with her and she was everything a sponsor should be.
Eventually I was able to find a sponsor who was closer and my online sponsor was very supportive in my decision to change to a f2f sponsor.
It's a great option for those who can't get out to meetings alot.
It works if you work it, and sometimes we have to work it "new age"-lol
Keep coming back shelly
__________________
Put down the magnifying glass and pick up the mirror!
You may consider asking one of the people you've met in person at the meetings. There are a lot of people who do have long-distance sponsors. In fact, my sponsor's sponsor lives on the mainland (where they originally met in person) and I believe they keep in contact with phone calls and probably email and the like, too.
The benefit of a local sponsor is just that you'd have someone to contact in the same time-zone, and he or she may be someone to meet with in person when it's getting really gritty.
-- Edited by Aloha on Wednesday 10th of November 2010 09:32:29 PM
I have an online sponsor and it works, we chat in IM on yahoo or over the phone or texting. It works for us, because I can't get to face to face meetings and she is in the same state as me, so one day we plan to meet up... it works if you work it :)
__________________
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. -Buddha
The past has flown away. The coming month and year do not exsist. Ours only is the present's tiny point. -Mahmud Shabistanri
