Story submitted by: Robyn T
Sobriety Date: 04/24/2005
I began my journey like so many other members. I was about 9 months sober on my second leg of the journey when I was sorta elected as GSR of my home group Singleness of Purpose when I went outside to smoke. I had an amazing friend David L that took me to Denny’s and showed me the service manual and explained what my duties would be. He linked elbows with me and walked with me on my service work path and is still walking right next to me but he now doesn’t have to hang on so tight. At about a year sober he told me that District 10 was hosting the State Convention. I had no idea what that was but he talked me into being the raffle chair. This introduced me to District level of service. I was scared and excited to be a part of this. District 10 hosts the December assembly about every 2 years so I have been a part of that planning committee also. Next I volunteered (well I was talked into it by David) to be the Grapevine Chair at District. Next rotation I was the District Secretary. Some point I was also Singleness of Purpose secretary. Eventually I was elected DCM which kept me connected with my District and Area business meeting Assemblies. This entire time David was taking me to Assemblies with other members from District 10. He linked elbows (or I attached myself to his hip) and introduced me to wonderfully caring members of AA. I had found my home in sobriety. In every level of service work I was surrounded by loving people and I had a new extra large family in NM. I went to the International’s in San Antonio and met my other family from all over the world! I had no idea I could have this big of a family. District 10 decided to host the State Convention and they needed a chair. David stared hard at the side of my face so I said if you’ll co-chair I’ll do it. Once again we partnered up with amazing District 10 members and put on a wonderful convention. Talk about stressful but the end result was beautiful. I became interested in an ad. hoc committee called Special Needs at that time later to become Accessabilities and Remote Communities. I’m a nurse and also have step son that is paralyzed so this was very close to my heart. It became a formal committee and in its second rotation I was honored to be asked to be the chair of it. That was one of the most amazing experiences and I feel like our committee was dedicated and passionate about assisting all members of AA to have better access to AA. The next rotation I put my name in for Area Registrar because my local family told me that God and the area members would decide if this was my next path. That was surreal to hear the announcement that I was elected. The 2 previous registrars Bill L and Kurt C linked elbows with me to get me started then the pandemic forced us to become virtually connected. Thanks to our web chair (now called Technology chair) we have been able to keep Area 46 live on zoom. I have never felt alone. I absolutely have missed human contact but I have not felt abandoned due to the current situation our country is in. However, I feel that being pushed to our computers has actually created some amazing tools that can assist us with our future endeavors. Zoom is the new norm but now we can use it as a partner as we are now able to safely see each other again. So I fretted over do I want to continue service work in Area. I was tired and missing everyone so bad. Right up to the elections I had not decided but that night I woke up to a song that the chorus is “if it’s meant to be it will be….ride with me ride with me and see how this thing goes”. I knew that the message was volunteer to be of service and once again God and the area will decide. I was elected as Area Secretary. I know it’s meant to be. My heart and soul in sobriety has been thanks to all the service work I have been blessed with. I will be forever grateful to my service sponsor David L. He told me at 9 months I won’t let you do what you did before (the 9 years of “sobriety” then relapse) you are going to do things different this time. There are no words to describe the gratitude I have for this journey. The beautiful family I have and the members of this ever growing family I haven’t met yet have made my life complete. There was a hole in my soul and it is now filled with love. Thank you to everyone that is linked together with our crossing paths we are in a maze of sobriety and finding our way in this new life and it is an incredible journey.