**Bringing Recovered to Meetings - 1**

Claming to be recovered, part 1 of a 2 part article

The quickest way to bring the notion of being recovered, instead of always recovering, to meetings is to introduce yourself as a recovered alcoholic or addict, etc. You know, as in "My name is Anne and I'm a recovered alcoholic/addict."

I was in my first year the first time I heard someone introduce themselves that way. I was shocked, but I also listened to what Ray had to say. His sobriety sounded solid to me and he had, as I recall, about 12 years. Following the meeting I asked him how he could say he was recovered. With a grin he referred me to the Foreword to the First Edition of the Big Book.

It was years before I dared to introduce myself that way, but I thought about it a lot and, over time, came to believe that becoming recovered, not always recovering, is the goal of the Program.

You may cause controversy

Of course, introducing yourself that way can also cause controversy in the meetings, or more likely, result in a challenge or two after the meeting. There are people who simply hate the idea and figure anyone who uses recovered is somehow out to destroy the program. Fortunately, there aren't many of those.

More often you'll find those who disagree in a gentle fashion; you'll also find those who want to know more and will ask. You can almost see the wheels turning in their minds as they think about what you share. A few of those may adopt the change in introduction, but not many. But those who think about it are thinking about the Program in a new way, and that's always good.

Of course, changing the way you introduce yourself is only one piece of bringing recovered to meetings. I'm not sure it's the most important part.

What you share and the way you share it is likely to have more impact than you realize.

Love, peace and abundance,

You'll find part 2 of this series here - Part 2