Finding a sponsor

[boxerfan]

I'm looking for my first sponsor and could use some tips about what to look for in a potential sponsor. Thanks, Lisa

[Crankie Yankee]

Hi Lisa,
I would say the most important thing I looked for in a sponser was a person who had a pretty good amount of clean and sober time and who seemed to work a good program in his life. Meaning that he walked the walk and didn't just talk the talk. Fortunately for me, that person just appeared to me one day out of the blue. It just so happend that we came from a very similar background and had gone to school together in the past. Come to think of it, we had accually drank and used marajuana together back in our high school days, so we were already introduced many years ago. I didn't run into him at first though. I went through a few other sponsers that were very helpful and patient with me in the beginning of my recovery. Since the beginning, I had relapsed many times and had been in and out of AA and NA for twenty years or so. I'm saying that because whenever I relapsed, it didn't have anything to do with my sponser at the time. It was all me. I never took any of my sponsers suggestions untill fairly recently. So when you find a sponser that you are comfortable with, LISTEN!!!!!!! I learned the hard way.
Mike

[alanbmac]

Ive had a big problem with this i live in an are were there are alot of retired or older kinda yuppie crowd. Ive had a hard time finding some one i can relate to. Ive been out of treatment and going to meatings for a month and still dont have a sponor.

[dalin]

welcome!!!
Go down to the sponsorship section and do some reading.
There are a few other sights that have sponsorship lists.
I do n.a. so that is what Iam familiar with.
Keep coming back!
I need you in my recovery!

[BigHappyBuddha]

If you have been to a meeting, you've done the hardest part already. If you go to the same meeting regularly and you hear the folks there speaking about "the group" and there is regular discussion of the Steps and readings from the Big Book and the 12 + 12, you have found a great place to get a sponsor. If the meetings you are attending don't seem so much about Studying the Text and more "topic" oriented, I would really suggest trying out different meetings until you find "a Group".

Now, you can start to watch and observe and really listen. It might take a little time to muster the courage to raise your hand or ask someone to sponsor you after the meeting is over, but don't take too long - you are not shopping for a new house, you are on a life and death mission and the solution we have to offer is available right away. You simply are looking for someone that can help/guide you through the Steps of our Program of Action.

Don't make it out to be more than it is, if you were going into the jungle- you might want an experienced guide to help you along....that's what this is.

Make a goal to get yourself a Sponsor by the time you drive home from your next meeting, just go ahead and do it...it'll be ok.

[boxerfan]

I asked a woman at yesterday's meeting and she said yes. I couldn't go out afterwards because of an appointment, but we are going to talk this weekend. Lisa :29:

[admin]

I am so very happy for you Lisa! :42: