Written by Stormy
For months I had gone to my local AA club, where I realized I couldn't share my problem. I knew others in the lifestyle couldn't share their problems too. The idea of a group like "Recovery in the Lifestyle" did not occur to me until much later.
After much thought, I went to a close friend in the lifestyle and asked his opinion about starting a group with lifestylers who were in recovery. He said "It would never work, having subs and Doms in the same room would make it impossible for people to be honest." But I wasn't deterred. I approached another friend, M.J., we spent many hours talking about how different types of people could come together and share their two common things: their recovery and their lifestyle. Together we went to our local lifestyle club when an event was being held. Having M.J. right behind me for support, I asked if they would allow us to hold a meeting there before the event started. Our request was met with smiles and nods. Yes! The vital support was there.
Details were worked out with the manager, who was enthusiastic about the idea. M.J. and I worked out the details and format for how the meetings should be held. The easiest part for us was deciding to run the format just like every recovery meeting we knew.
Over the next two months, I took on the task of seeking approval from AA's General Services office in New York City. For three months with much faith and trial, we were granted permission by the NY office. We were allowed to revise the 12 steps & 12 traditions to incorporate it into our fellowship!
Later at one of the meetings where 32 people were in attendance, the chair stood up and said that we needed a group decision to formally finalize a decision... to name myself as the founder, and M.J. as the co-founders, for Recovery in the Lifestyle.
A personal dream had come true, and it was only a beginning. I am grateful for all the help and support on this journey, each and every day.
Written by M.J.
A few years ago, Stormy came to me and told me this story. "Listen M.J., there are a few people here tonight who are in recovery and don't have support in our club. I'd like you to help me get something started that I've been trying to put into action. I need your help."
At first, I resisted, and didn't really have the time it might take. After some long talks together at our local lifestyle club, I said ok. We talked on the phone for many hours, trying to figure out what has now become "Recovery in the Lifestyle."
At first we agreed it should be a group. We asked the lifestyle group "SPICE" to
undertake our meeting. They agreed. After our first meeting, with 20 or so
attending, We just stood there both of us wondering if someday there would be support for our fellowship people and there supporters all throughout the Lifestyle. It was only still a dream at this time, which we hoped someday would become a reality and a worldwide fellowship.
So we quickly stood on our own, holding meetings before SPICE and keeping with the 7th tradition. Soon it was time to expand. So we called over to Command Performance and got our second meeting going. The first meeting there was a big success and we were on the map. We accomplished a lot of things in the first years Stormy got us at BASH, two years in a row in Florida, also BEYOND LEATHER and LAC then on to Atlanta and other states.. We are growing beyond our wildest dreams. Once we were two, now we are many.
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