SOS-Save Our
Selves
SOS offers an
Alternative-
Self-Empowering
approach
to sobriety.
In SOS meetings, members build a safe
environment where there is no
criticism of each other's choices of
recovery.
I
learn to say
-
I
-
Me -
My
- and
refrain from using You - We - You
Must - We Must -You Should -We Should -
You Need To -
I provide a safe
place to share.
How do I go about providing this safe
place? I should start with myself.
I realize that I am unique,
one of a kind. No one has
the same experiences or feelings that I
do. If I share what I have done or
might do if I were in that person's
shoes, and offer it in a sharing manner,
then I probably am doing it the SOS
way.
No
"Sponsors" in SOS.
We are all equal; I have to go outside
SOS to have or be a "Sponsor."
I stay focused on
the reason I'm here
For Me
for My recovery.
When
I try to fix someone else then
I'm distracted from my own recovery.
I do care about others in the group and
because I care; I will offer my support,
not my criticism. I know that for
each of us the way to sobriety is
different.
I will learn to
accept that another person's
recovery is going to be different from
mine. Part
of my learning to fit into this
new world of sobriety is to help
make this meeting as safe as possible.
This will make me a stronger person and
add power to my recovery.
Every person in the group needs to have
a chance to share.
This is intended
to be the first priority. A signal
decided in advance can enable everyone
to talk. A signal decided in
advance can enable everyone to talk.
When the signal is given, the person
speaking can wind up and conclude.
It is of
great importance that each person has a
voice.
Anyone who wants
to can continue later if time allows.
When everyone has had a chance to speak,
then the floor can be opened, again
using a signal to shorten each person’s
time in speaking. At your meeting you
are free to use what works.
No one chairs a
meeting indefinitely.
Each member of the
group knows he or she has a chance to
become part of running a meeting. This
happens by helping the meeting run
smoothly. If for some reason the
chairperson can't make a meeting, there
are members to take his or her place who
then become empowered. The group is also
empowered; The group experiments,
members make suggestions on "our"
recovery meeting. What works we can pass
on to other SOS members.
There
will be no promotion of drug use.
There will be no promotion of drug use
except for medical reasons, not for
getting-high reasons.
This is a
Abstinence Support group.
I will repeat; SOS is a abstinence
support group.
Alcoholic/Drug-Addict.
Some members don't
refer to them selves as alcoholics or a
drug-addicts. We each have the right to
paint a picture of ourselves as we
choose. The purpose of the group is to
experience life clean and sober. The
purpose is not to chant in unison, as we
are each unique.
SOS has
no central apparatus, hierarchical
structures or authoritarian leaderships.
Each individual is a leader in his or
her own sobriety.
Our philosophy is
that each individual is unique and
should therefore find and fashion his or
her own road to sober living and a full
life. We have no interest in
members' private beliefs or lifestyles.
All groups are
independent
and
work together as a voluntary association
of freethought groups.
There is no hidden agenda.
I am free to
use other support groups. There is no
single path to sobriety. Using
other support groups will not in any way
affect my standing in SOS.
Religious & Nonreligious Freedom.
I know that in
every recovery group there will
be people with differing views on
religion. There will be people
with different views on politics.
To keep our focus on recovery and keep
our religious, political and social
views intact, free from criticism,
members will not try to convert us to
their religion or politics. It is in
the best interest of the group and each
of us that our religious or nonreligious
beliefs be expressed with
like-minded people outside of the
meeting.
Here in SOS we
build a safe place where religious and
nonreligious beliefs is practiced.
Here everyone is
encouraged to follow his or her own
belief system.
My religious or nonreligious beliefs
are never challenged in the group
because they are a private part of my
recovery. With my mind clear, free of
alcohol/drugs, I will be better equipped
to follow my own belief system. I can
expand and strengthen my own belief
system with like-minded people outside
of SOS meetings. Catholics - Baptists -
Hindus - Hare Krishnas - Buddhists -
Moslems - Agnostics - Atheists and
Pagans - are free to practice their
beliefs with like-minded people outside
of SOS Meetings.
Here in SOS we build a safe place where
Religious and Nonreligious freedom is
practiced. Here everyone is encouraged
to follow his or her own belief
system.
No
One Preaches
or Tries
to Convert or Subvert Another's Belief
System.
Here we are each Unique.
We Celebrate- & - Support this
Uniqueness. From this celebration of
just how different we are.
Strength & Power Grows.
Clean and sober I learn to use the
power I have within myself
to change my life forever.
We are each
Unique
We celebrate and
support this uniqueness. From this
celebration of just how different we are
strength and power grow.
Clean and sober, I
learn to use the power I have within
myself to change my life forever.
I will Accept the Challenge of Living
Life Alcohol/Drug Free.
I have
accepted the challenge of living my life
Alcohol/drug free.
There is no one
way, there is only the way that works
for you or your group. If it isn't
working then it is up to each of us to
to find the way that works for us or our
group. When you find things that
work please share with the group, so we
can all benefit.
Duaine
Metevia from Dallas
