What have you accomplished since leaving XA?

I too am more healthier. I go to the gym and I do yoga. I have more times with friends and just feel free. I don't feel I have to put a show on for people anymore, I can just be myself.

I've read this guy's stuff before because the 20 meetings stood it.

I know many people who used AA as a "time out", maybe learned something in the process, and moved on with their lives without booze. I am glad for them.

I too am much happier physically and emotionally without booze in my life. I just never was around people that lived booze-free. I always lived in places where it was a big part of the business and social culture. AA exposed me to a different side of life, one that I enjoy. And they were happy to be booze free.

Today, my husband and I intermingle with some people that drink, most that don't. I don't feel weird if I go to a gig where my nephew's band is playing and they are all getting drunk. I surely don't even miss it. I have a homelife that i never expected to have because I (and everyone else i knew) were always out on the bars. It's a nice clean house with hummingbird swarms that I love, and I can take notice of things that never mattered to me before. We appreciate it.

I notice that I sometimes forget how I've changed and what I have accomplished. I can't say that it's a result of leaving AA, but it has happened since I left. I'm clean/sober, healther - lost about 40 pounds, happier, less shy, less anxiety. Oh bundles of little things, like not worrying that I have to rush to a meeting, which is uncomfortable for me. That's less stress :) and just a personal little thing that helps my life be more comfortable.

I also don't feel like I have to "work" on myself as if I'm a defect constantly. It's a feeling like no other, that I'm so different than "normal" people, bad, that I need a spanking or something. That's big, because my self esteem has lifted and that was important. Good topic, looking forward to reading about other positive changes from others.

Since I have left AA I have:
Studied alternatives
Shifted from magical thinking to logic
Had evenings with my family
Been of service to people other than strangers
Abandon dangerous beliefs
Finished education
Focused on my own business
Stopped being manipulated
Focused on my wife instead of strange women
Increased my personal security
Kept my business to myself
Respected others more
Improved my diet

There's plenty, but to mention any of it, as Clara has above, would just invite accusations and indictments about my being immersed in the "cult of death". Even though I left AA and did not return over 20 years ago, I have come to understand that my viewpoint is prejudged before it ever hits the keyboard. So rave on about your incredible wellness. Life goes on and it will inevitably put a crimp in your euphoria.

Graduated from college

I forgot to mention that I don't have to check in with a sponsor all the time nor do assignments that were regularly depressing and not beneficial.

I'm free to think and act like a normal person since I've left AA.
This means more to me than anything.... Freedom.

I discovered I was never sick in the first place! At least not with anything that can keep me down, certainly not with what they thought was wrong with me (aside from the aforementioned injuries, which thankfully healed). Then I started building on that to do more and more and MORE AND MORE!! Every single day! (Sorry, just a bit jazzed today, life is good!)

OK, I do need to add to that. One thing I learned is that I'm not powerless, not at all! I don't mean that in a "take that, AA!" sort of way, either. I'm being quite sincere. I found that when I feel powerless I feel overwhelmed as well, and I freeze up. I found that that was how I always had reacted in the past, but was no longer the way I act (or react) now. When I feel the least bit frustrated or bored these days, I get up and go do something about it. I build on things that I do, learning experiences, training and education as well as work I get done, and the result (quite naturally) is to feel empowered and have a sense of accomplishment. Goal oriented thinking, not instant gratification. That shift happened naturally though, it wasn't a part of any program or decision I made other than to just refuse to ever wallow in it.

The other thing I did? I stopped going to the damned doctors!

live_free_or_die apparently reposts comments from another poster: "So for me I am financially better off as well as in better physical health." Ditto, but doing both open and closed.

No longer paralyzed by introspection and self analysis.
Cognitive dissonance associated with trying to believe what I couldn't believe has disappeared.
Have regained personal integrity by no longer having to be silent when bombarded by faith based talk. Even better - don't have to listen through it anymore.
Got into MBSR to transition out of aa - love it!
My family no longer gag on thought of slow cooked food 3 nights a week. (I've forever ruined osso bucco and lamb shanks for them.)
No longer creating stress for myself or my family by rushing them so I can get to a meeting.
Trust myself to know what's best for me.

I am now financially secure. I also make better business decisions.

I do not ever worry about 'falling off the wagon' In fact I rarely think about drinking.

My family and I have a great relationship.

Yes, I am free.

I not only would not be free had I pursued the path of the AA faith, but in my gut I think I would be dead now.

I'm very happy to hear you got your financial situation on the upswing. AA really wanted me to let go as they say of my goals of my ambitions , it seems any success I had achieved in the past was supposed to be forgotten and by me working at mcdonalds I would achieve balance in my life. Of course they wanted me to loose all my good friendships and hang out with only AA people. My life hasn't yet turned around but having hope and goals and ambition returns the joy to my life.

Why are there Bill W worshippers in here?

Man i would vomit if i even step 1 toe in a meeting?