I had a request from someone to share about finding a sponsor.
I can tell you my story about a sponsor. I found my first sponsor during my first year in the program and we had a lot in common. However, I wasn't ready for the committment. Especially her request to call her every day. I felt like I was interrupting because she had a family and kids to tend to. When I finally decided I needed a sponsor and I had to make this committment to my program, she was unable to continue as my sponsor.
So I began to search. I settled on someone who regularly attended one of the meetings I did. Then, as soon as I made up my mind to ask her, she stopped showing up at the meeting. Okay HP, I'm listening!!
So, I decided I might need to broaden my search pool and tried a new meeting. The Queen City Friday night meeting. I had heard lots of good things about this meeting. Well, that first night when I walked in, the woman who greeted me was someone I had met at the previous Winter Round Up. I didn't remember her name, but what I remembered was that she came into one of the same sessions at Winter Round Up, gave everyone a hug (whether she knew us or not), and stated "You need 6 hugs a day to grow!" She was just this vibrant person who immediately made an impact on me. So when I walked into QC Friday night and there she was I though "Okay, HP, I'm paying attention!"
So I asked her after that meeting if she would be my sponsor. She is both my program sponsor and my service sponsor.
I have actually finished Step 3 and I'm about to embark on the journey of Step 4.
Finding your sponsor and establishing a relationship is a journey, just like every part of this program. I asked a few others before widening my search pool and finding my sponsor. It just wasn't the right time for them. It wasn't about them not liking me! Sponsorship is about establishing a new relationship of trust and communication. No hurt feelings, no old resentments, none of the old patterns we know oh so well. Enjoy finding your sponsor. You never know who you will meet along the way!
Yours in service,
Angela B.
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My recommendation for a new-comer would be to find a temporary sponsor, someone to talk to and share with while you search for a permanent sponsor. When you are comfortable in your home group, you will be able to recognize members like you with similiar backgrounds and experience. Ask your HP for guidance and you will be rewarded with the right sponsor. Or you may be like me, I recognized my sponsor right away, just from listening to her share and from listening to her husband share in open AA meetings. Our lives have had much of the same experience only she has a great deal of Alanon under her belt! I can learn a lot from her.
ReplyDeleteThank God for Alanon and Alanon Sponsorship!
thanks for the comment judymae. Wow! three people have read the blog now! Don't hesitate to ask if there is something you would like me to write about. I'll do my best to answer questions or share my experience, strength and hope.
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