Rural Sobriety
“I’m eternally grateful for the sober life I have found amongst the hills and glens that I’m surrounded by.”
A friend from down south once described where I lived as “Hanging onto the British Isles by your fingernails“. It’s certainly remote and rural but after several years here, I found myself hanging onto my life by my fingertips.
The social life, as in many small rural communities, revolved around the pub and I joined the drinking culture on offer. I did so for 15 years or so until the problems in my life grew too many and became too great. I tired of the company, being unable to share the issues causing the slow disintegration of my life – alcohol wasn’t the problem but the solution or so I thought. I withdrew, preferring to drink alone at home, I became isolated socially, as well as from my professional peers, distant from my parents and siblings. I’d got divorced and missed my kids, while financially I was in dire straits and I drank to ease the pain that had become my life.
I was drinking to excess and on occasions I’d be sent home from work. I knew I had to do something about my drinking otherwise my career would be ruined and I’d most likely be made homeless. I was given the name and number of someone known to be a long time sober and we met up. I attended my first AA meeting and while there were only a few people there, I knew them from the same watering holes that I had frequented.
My new life started in sobriety but it didn’t happen overnight. Meetings were few and far between, I would drive over 120 miles each week to attend a larger city meeting. In small communities anonymity and confidentiality can be rare commodities however I needn’t have worried as people saw the gradual change in me and life improved as I became an active and productive member of the local community. The lady caretaker of our group venue addressed me once as, “One of the gentlemen who goes to the meetings”, I took it as a compliment.
My home group closed permanently once lockdown started and like many others, went online where it remains today five years later. The Internet allows me to attend meetings daily whenever I like. I’m active in service even though I live remotely and rurally – I host and co-host, agreeing to be a speaker at other meetings when asked. I’ve made friends around the globe all thanks to the online AA meetings.
I’m eternally grateful for the sober life I have found amongst the hills and glens that I’m surrounded by. Many thanks to the members of the Fellowship, my Higher Power and the founders of AA for this wonderful life that I never thought possible for me to have.
Jan O
Lochcarron Sunday Online