Unexpected Inspiration

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear “Alcoholics Anonymous”? Maybe it’s the classic introduction, “Hi, my name is X, and I’m an alcoholic.” Maybe you think about the 12 steps. Maybe you could even recite one or two. Before yesterday, that was about all the knowledge I had about it, too.  

            You know those assignments you get in classes that you start dreading the moment they are mentioned? The ones you can’t find the purpose of and that you feel like are a waste of your oh-so-precious time? Well, that’s how I went into this AA meeting feeling. I had been assigned to attend a meeting for my Abnormal Psychology (the study of mental disorders) class. Obviously I knew that AA was a great program and respected it, but I felt no need to go and experience it for myself. Plus, I hated the idea of observing something of that nature in the first place. "They aren’t animals in a zoo to be observed and analyzed,” I thought to myself, “what right do I have to encroach on their privacy and personal struggle?” On top of the doubts I had already, the meeting ended up being in a horrible part of town. I’m the first to admit that I am a scaredy cat; if I don't feel safe I ain’t doin’ it 99.9% of the time. This time, however, the nerd in me prevailed over the wimp and my friend and I braved the walk into the meeting.

            What I saw and heard in the hour and a half I spent in that meeting was nothing short of inspiring and uplifting. There were men and women of all ages, colors, shapes, and sizes in that room and the only thing that connected them to each other was the dark cloud of alcohol addiction they fought every single day. And yet, despite this less than sunny connection, the heaviest emotion in the room was caring. That sounds mushy, I know, but I assure you there were plenty of manly bikers and grown, serious looking men and women in the room. It wasn’t a bunch of weak, soft people that most people picture when they think of group therapy. There were people who had been sober for a day and people who had been sober for 35 years and every amount of time in between. The long-sober members were there primarily as a source of inspiration and support for the newer members and that alone was magical to me. So many times I feel too busy to help even my best friends with the simplest of things, and yet here were these people who were perfect strangers outside of that room coming week after week to meetings to help each other live a better life. I was continually surprised at the information they shared. God and Christianity permeated the conversation. Everyone in the room was a comedian and laughter was not only accepted but also encouraged. Most of all, everyone very obviously cared about everyone else in that room and believed in the power of the program he or she was a part of. How many situations are you in daily that you can say that about? My answer is far too few.

            Attending this AA meeting was the single most impactful learning experience I’ve had this semester. Not only did I learn about what AA really is and how great of a program it is, but I also was re-affirmed in my choice of career path. Even though I’m not sure how I’m going to do it exactly, I know I want to help people through tough situations with therapy/counseling. Sometimes I lose sight of that desire in the midst of worry and doubt, but every time that happens I have an experience like I did yesterday that reminds me that I’m in the right place. If you ever get the chance to go to anything like what I went to, take it. You may feel uncomfortable at first, but I promise it will give you insight and empathy into what anyone you pass on the street could be going through and will give you faith that people will to extraordinary lengths to help each oth