You Are Not Alone! We Welcome You to Playa Del Carmen’s English-speaking fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. “Trudging the road of happy destiny”
AA, playa del carmen, Mexico, Alcoholics Anonymous, NA, Meetings, Sobriety, zoom aa, zoom meetings
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The You Are Not Alone Group welcomes you to Playa del Carmen’s English-speaking fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous!

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Find out more about AA as a whole both in Mexico and around the world.

Alcoholics AnonymousAA Logo - Black
Mexican AA Service OfficeAA Logo - Black

COVID-19 and YANA

The pandemic is changing how we connect.

Quintana Roo has removed the restrictions on gatherings and no longer mandates masks in public spaces. However, if anyone attending the meeting requests, we suggest other attendees be willing to put on masks. Restrictions may be re-implemented at any time and we can have only have in person meetings by abiding by the government regulations.

We have renovated our room with an additional door and two windows, to both improve air circulation and general safety of the space.

We are holding meetings in-person and online in English y en presencial y en línea en Español. More information below!

English Face-to-Face Meetings

Click on the tabs below for more information!
  • Meeting Schedule
  • Where Is the Room?
  • Find The Beach
  • Safety Guidelines

All the meeting times listed are Playa/Cancun time.

In Person AA Meetings

We do have in person English AA meetings (for Spanish meetings click this link or scroll below)

All meetings are in the YANA room, except for the Saturday 9am beach meeting.

Days and Times (In Person Meetings)

Monday, 12pm and 5:30pm

12pm & 5:30pm, Open Topic in YANA room

Tuesday, 12pm, 5:30pm, and 7pm

→ 12pm & 5:30pm, 12 & 12 Study in YANA room
→ 
7pm, Beginners Meeting in YANA room

Wednesday, 12pn and 5:30pm

→ 12pm, in YANA room
→ 5:30pm, The Promises in YANA room

Thursday, 12pm and 5:30pm

→ 12pm & 5:30pm, Open Topic in YANA room

Friday, 12pm, 5:30pm and 7pm

→ 12pm, in YANA room
→ 5:30pm, Big Book Study in YANA room
→ 
7pm, Beginners Meeting in YANA room

Saturday, 9am and 5:30pm

→ 9am, at Beach
5:30pm, Speaker in YANA room

Sunday, 9:30am, 4pm, and 5:30pm

→ 9:30am-11am, Men’s Meeting with Breakfast in YANA room
→ 4pm, Women’s Meeting in YANA room
→ 5:30pm, Big Book Study in YANA room

Where We Are

We have in-person English speaking meetings in the YANA room location. On Avenida 45 between Juarez and Calle 2.

Accessibility

Our AA room is not fully accessible, as there is a single step up to enter the room.

Safety

Please note that meetings may be limited capacity, due to the size of the room and COVID-19 restrictions. In that case, it would be on a first come, first serve basis. Don’t worry though, if you are a newcomer, you will always get a seat.

We encourage you to bring and wear your mask during the meetings!

To adequately provide for a safe environment for all members, the YANA group has chosen to install a second door and window.

What to Tell a Taxi Driver

Tell the taxi driver it is between Juarez and Calle 2 Nte, on Avenida 45 (en avenida cuarenta y cinco, entre Juarez y calle dos norte). Or you can ask the driver to go to the intersection of Calle 2 Nte and Avenida 45 (hasta avenida cuarenta y cinco con calle dos). You can also pull us up on google maps and show the driver the pin on the map.

Beach Meeting

Saturdays at 9am we have a meeting on the beach. This meeting location changed in May 2023. Find us at the end of Calle 38 on the beach. Our old location got too loud and crowded, so we’ve moved to a more peaceful locale!

What to Tell a Taxi Driver

Tell the taxi driver to go to Calle 38 and the beach (en la playa con calle trente ocho).

All About Safety

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

To achieve this we have to abide by governmental health protocols to reduce the transmission rate of the coronavirus.

Limited Attendees

To keep our members safe, and depending on changing local government protocols, we may need to limit the number of people in our meeting room at once. This would happen on a first come, first serve basis. The chairperson may make accommodations to these guidelines on a case by case basis.

Exception: Newcomers will always be given a seat!

Before the Meeting

The room will be regularly disinfected and is cleaned frequently. This includes the chairs, the coffee maker, the bathroom, the meeting format, readings, and everything else in the room.

Entering the Meeting

We suggest that attendees use antibacterial gel and/or wash your hands when you enter the meeting space.

Bring your mask and you are welcome to wear it. If you are in a meeting and people are not wearing their masks, feel free to raise your hand and request that masks be worn (or pull the chair aside and ask them). We suggest that all attendees be willing to put on their mask for another person’s health if they require/request so that we can serve our primary purpose.

After the Meeting

Respect other people’s space if speaking to someone individually before or after the meeting. When in doubt, just ask. Waves and elbow bumps are a great alternative!

English AA Online Meetings

Our online meetings are taking place via the Zoom platform.

All the meeting times listed are Playa/Cancun time.

  • Online Schedule
  • How to Join

Online AA Meetings

We have Zoom-based English speaking meetings daily at 9am. All of these meetings are open and we encourage you to attend our virtual room via the Zoom platform.

Daily at 9am

Monday, 9am

Beginner’s

Tuesday, 9am

12 & 12 Study

Wednesday, 9am

→ 9am, The Promises

Thursday, 9am

Open Topic

Friday, 9am

Big Book

Saturday, 9am

→ 9am, 11th Step Meditation

Sunday, 9am

→ 9am, Big Book Study

Zoom Details

Zoom Meeting ID: 669 9929 803

Meeting Link: zoom.us/j/6699929803

Password: yanaplaya

Call in on the phone, follow the prompts and input the meeting ID:

    • In Mexico? Dial one of these numbers:
      • +52 554 161 4288
      • +52 229 910 0061
    • Elsewhere? Find your local/country number

All About Zoom

You can join a Zoom meeting from any device. That means you can connect on your smartphone, you can video join on your computer, or call into the meeting with your cell or landline.

Using the App

If you want to join a meeting using a smartphone, tablet, or computer you will first need an app. The easiest way to get the app is to just try to join a meeting and follow the prompts.

When you click to join a meeting, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom on whatever device you’re using. It’s perfectly safe to use this method and to download and install the app.

Life Hack: Do a test run with a test meeting by visiting zoom.us/test

Meeting IDs and Links

Zoom Meeting ID: this is is a 9 to 11 digit number that is used to join a Zoom meeting, you can use this ID directly by visiting zoom.us/join and inputting the ID, opening the app and using the ID, or when you call in on your phone.

Zoom Meeting Link: This link can be used on any device to bring you to the meeting, just click and follow the prompts.

Call in on a phone, dial your local number and follow the prompts. You’ll need to input the meeting ID to join the meeting.

    • In Mexico? Dial one of these numbers:
      • +52 554 161 4288
      • +52 229 910 0061
    • Elsewhere? Find your local/country number

In a Meeting

If you are not a chairperson, all you need to do is what you would do in any other meeting, just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s helpful to learn how to mute and unmute your microphone to prevent ambient noise during other people’s shares and to be able to speak when you need to. There are other fun tricks and tools available in a Zoom meeting, but like we say in AA, let’s just keep it simple.

7th Tradition

  • 7th Tradition
  • US & Canada
  • Mexico
  • Internationally
7

AA 7th Tradition

The Seventh Tradition states: “Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”.

Donate

Click the tabs of this section to find a donation method that works for you.

We are utilizing online platforms to “pass the basket” because we cannot always do so in person. This is a place to provide the 7th tradition information to AA attendees who want to put change in the basket but cannot do so in person.

Donations are completely voluntary! There is no requirement for membership aside from a desire to stop drinking.

About Tradition 7

According to the AA website, “While contributions cover each group’s rent and other expenses, the Seventh Tradition is essential at every level of A.A. service. It is both a privilege and a responsibility for groups and members to ensure that not only their group, but also their intergroup/central office, local services, district, area, and the General Service Office remain self-supporting. This keeps A.A. free of outside influences that might divert us from our primary purpose — to help the alcoholic who still suffers. The amount of our contribution is secondary to the spiritual connection that unites all groups around the world.”

Text to Donate

If you have a US or Canadian phone, you can text to put money in the basket.

TEXT to DONATE

From a US or Canadian phone, text YANA to +1 (202) 858-1233.

AA 7th Tradition

If you can and want to attend an in-person meeting, you can donate in person. Or if you are in Mexico and want to donate online, you can do that too.

Online in Mexico

Visit MoneyPool.mx/p/j9dlmTE to donate from Mexico.

AA 7th Tradition

Donations can be made online from most places around the world through Give Butter. Give Butter takes payments through many different methods, including credit cards and PayPal.

Donate Online from Anywhere

Meeting Resources

Here are some of the basic meeting materials and our online format.
  • Format
  • Beginner's
  • Meditation
  • Preamble
  • How It Works
  • More About
  • Traditions
  • Vision For You
  • Promises
  • Principles
AA Logo - Black

Online Meeting Format - YANA

Hi, my name is [_____________] and I am an alcoholic. Welcome to the You Are Not Alone Group of Alcoholics Anonymous in Playa del Carmen. This is an open, English-speaking Zoom meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and all are welcome.

Let us open this meeting with a moment of silence and then please join me in the serenity prayer.

Please make sure to mute the microphone on your phone or computer unless you are sharing. When you are ready to share, please introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.

If you have consumed alcohol or any other mood or mind altering substances in the last 24 hours, except as prescribed by a physician, we ask that you refrain from sharing today and speak to one of us after the meeting.

Is there anyone here for their very first AA meeting?

[If there is a newcomer, the chairperson welcomes them and changes the planned meeting format to a First Step meeting. The First Step from 12 & 12 is read.]

Is there anyone here in their first 30 days of sobriety?

Are there any AA birthdays?

[If there is an AA birthday, the chairperson can ask them to share how they did it.]

Are there any AA announcements?

Will [___________] please read our AA Preamble.

Would someone please read How It Works (p.58) or More About Alcoholism (p.30).

[Chairperson may pick either of these readings.]

*If the chairperson would like, they can ask someone to also read the 12 Traditions.

Please remember to respect the anonymity of each member present and we request that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism.

We ask that you conduct yourself on screen in a manner similar to what you would do if you were attending a meeting in person and be respectful to the person who is sharing.

Please be mindful of the length of your share. We suggest you keep your shares to around 3 to 5 minutes, so that everyone has an opportunity to speak.

Please remember: Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, please let it stay here.

Introduce topic for discussion and open the meeting up for sharing.

Near the end of the meeting:

Our 7th Tradition States that we are self-supporting through our own contributions. If you can donate, that would be appreciated. Please see the instructions being posted in the chat.

Paste following into the chat:

Text YANA to +1 202 858 1233 from US/CAN
or https://www.moneypool.mx/p/j9dlmTE in MEX
or https://givebutter.com/YANA internationally
All info is on https://www.aaplayadelcarmen.com

At the end of the meeting, the Chairperson says:

If you did not get an opportunity to share during the meeting, or if you’re looking for a sponsor, please talk to one of us afterwards.

Would those of you who are willing to be a sponsor please raise your hands?

Let us be reminded that when anyone anywhere reaches out for help we want the hand of AA always to be there, and for that we are responsible.

Will [_______] please read A Vision for You from our text (p.164).

We will now close the meeting with the Serenity Prayer so please make sure you are muted.

CLICK ON “END MEETING”

BE SURE TO SIGN OUT OF THE ACCOUNT

Get the printable version

AA Logo - Black

Online Beginner's Meeting Format - YANA

Hi, my name is [_____________] and I am an alcoholic. Welcome to the You Are Not Alone Group of Alcoholics Anonymous in Playa del Carmen. This is an open, English-speaking Zoom meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous for beginners, and all are welcome.

Let us open this meeting with a moment of silence and then please join me in the serenity prayer.

As this is a beginners meeting, we would encourage those of you who are in your first year of sobriety to post any questions you may have via chat to the group or me directly. This gives us an opportunity to address those later in the meeting.

Please make sure to mute the microphone on your phone or computer unless you are sharing. When you are ready to share, please introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.

If you have consumed alcohol or any other mood or mind altering substances in the last 24 hours, except as prescribed by a physician, we ask that you refrain from sharing today and speak to one of us after the meeting.

Is there anyone here for their very first AA meeting ever?

(If there is a newcomer, the chairperson welcomes them and changes the planned meeting format to a First Step meeting, The Twelve and Twelve books are handed out and the newcomer is given a 24-hour chip)

Would those who are willing and able to be a sponsor, please send their contact information privately to ________ (name of the person in their first meeting).

Is there anyone here in their first 30 days of sobriety?

Are there any AA birthdays?

(The chairperson can ask them to briefly share how they did it).

Would those with less than 12 months of sobriety please raise your hand? This is not to embarrass you but so that we may get to know you better.

Are there any AA announcements?

I have asked [___________] to please read our Preamble.

Chairperson reads the 12 steps:

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol— that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Please remember to respect the anonymity of each member present and we request that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism.

Please be mindful of the length of your share when we have a larger meeting, we suggest you keep your shares to around 4 minutes, so that everyone has an opportunity to speak.

Chairperson then shares a reading of their choice, or asks someone to read.

Chairperson shares their experience on the topic for 5 minutes.

Chairperson reads any questions he/she may have received.

The meeting is now open for sharing by those with less than 12 months sobriety. After 20 minutes we will open up the meeting for everybody to share.

Please remember: Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, please let it stay here.

Near the end of the meeting:

Our 7th Tradition States that we are self-supporting through our own contributions. If you can donate, that would be appreciated. Please see the instructions being posted in the chat.

Paste following into the chat:

Text YANA to +1 202 858 1233 from US/CAN
or https://www.moneypool.mx/p/j9dlmTE in MEX
or https://givebutter.com/YANA internationally
All info is on https://www.aaplayadelcarmen.com

At the end of the meeting, the Chairperson says:

If you did not get an opportunity to share during the meeting, or if you are looking for a sponsor, please talk to one of us afterwards the meeting.

Would those who are willing to be a sponsor please raise their hands?

Let us be reminded that when anyone anywhere reaches out for help we want the hand of AA always to be there, and for that we are responsible.

I’ve asked [_______] to please read A Vision for You from our text (p.164).

We will now close the meeting with the Serenity Prayer so please make sure you are muted.

CLICK ON “END MEETING”

BE SURE TO SIGN OUT OF THE ACCOUNT

Get the printable version

AA Logo - Black

Online Meditation Meeting Format - YANA

Hi, my name is [_____________] and I am an alcoholic. Welcome to the You Are Not Alone Group of Alcoholics Anonymous in Playa del Carmen. This is an 11th Step Prayer, Mediation and Discussion Meeting where we improve our conscious contact with our God as we understand Him. We will read a selection from AA Approved literature and prayers, then we will have a 15-minute period of meditation, followed by sharing and discussion on the 11th Step and/or the readings and prayers.

Let us open this meeting with a moment of silence and then please join me in the serenity prayer.

Please make sure to mute the microphone on your phone or computer unless you are sharing. When you are ready to share, please introduce yourself with your name and where you are from.

If you have consumed alcohol or any other mood or mind altering substances in the last 24 hours, except as prescribed by a physician, we ask that you refrain from sharing today and speak to one of us after the meeting.

Is there anyone here for their very first AA meeting?

[If there is a newcomer, the chairperson welcomes them and changes the planned meeting format to a First Step meeting. The First Step from 12 & 12 is read.]

Is there anyone here in their first 30 days of sobriety?

Are there any AA birthdays?

[If there is an AA birthday, the chairperson can ask them to briefly share how they did it.]

Are there any AA announcements?

Will [___________] please read our AA Preamble.

Would someone please read How It Works (p.58) or More About Alcoholism (p.30).

[Chairperson may pick either of these readings.]

*If the chairperson would like, they can ask someone to also read the 12 Traditions.

Please remember to respect the anonymity of each member present and we request that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism.

We ask that you conduct yourself on screen in a manner similar to what you would do if you were attending a meeting in person and be respectful to the person who is sharing.

Please be mindful of the length of your share. We suggest you keep your shares to around 3 to 5 minutes, so that everyone has an opportunity to speak.

This is not a meeting that promotes any form of meditation over another. We have no opinions on religious or spiritual practices. If there is anyone here without experience in meditation, we encourage you to sit still for the 15 minute mediation time to the best of your ability. We ask that all show respect during this time by observing the silence, remain muted and please turn your cameras off during this time, so as to not disturb others.

Before the meditation I will read the 11th step prayer, we will start a period of 15 minutes of silent meditation. I will signal the end of the meditation period with a bell. We will remain in silence with eyes closed for a few minutes to give ourselves time to slowly come back to the room and adjust to our external senses and I will read the 7th Step Prayer.

I will now read the 11th Step prayer. This is actually the Prayer of Assisi, which Bill W added to his essay on step 11 in The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, which was written 14 years after the Big Book.

“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace—
that where there is hatred, I may bring love-
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness-
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony-
that where there is error, I may bring truth-
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith-
that where there is despair, I may bring hope-
that where there are shadows, I may bring light-
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted-
to understand, than to be understood-
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying to self that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen”.

As beginners in meditation, we now reread this prayer very slowly, savoring every word and trying to take in the deep meaning of each phrase and idea. It will help if we drop all resistance to what our friend says. For in meditation, debate has no place. We rest quietly with the thoughts of someone who knows so that we may experience and learn.

As though lying upon a sunlit beach, let us relax and breathe deeply of the spiritual atmosphere with which the grace of this prayer surrounds us. Let us become willing to partake and be strengthened and lifted up by the sheer spiritual power, beauty, and love of which these magnificent words are the carriers. Let us now look upon the sea and ponder what it’s mystery is; and let us lift our eyes to the far horizon, beyond which we shall seek all those wonders still unseen.

“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love-that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness- that where there is discord, I may bring harmony- that where there is error, I may bring truth- that where there is doubt, I may bring faith- that where there is despair, I may bring hope- that where there are shadows, I may bring light- that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted- to understand, than to be understood- to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying to self that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen”.

Ring gong one time to begin 15 minute meditation.

At the end of the 15 min chair rings gong 3x’s to signal end of meditation.

Read 7th Step Prayer

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”

Group Sharing

Now is the time where we share our thoughts about the 11th Step and/or the reading(s) and prayer. Because time is limited, we ask you to be mindful of the length of your share, so that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to share before we close at 10:00. For people who would like more time to share or do not get a chance to share, please stay after the meeting and talk with us, as the meeting room will be kept open for awhile.

Near the end of the meeting:

Our 7th Tradition States that we are self-supporting through our own contributions. If you can donate, that would be appreciated. Please see the instructions being posted in the chat.

Paste following into the chat:

Text YANA to +1 202 858 1233 from US/CAN
or https://www.moneypool.mx/p/j9dlmTE in MEX
or https://givebutter.com/YANA internationally
All info is on https://www.aaplayadelcarmen.com

At the end of the meeting, the Chairperson says:

Please remember: Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, please let it stay here.

If you did not get an opportunity to share during the meeting, or if you’re looking for a sponsor, please talk to one of us afterwards.

Would those who are willing to be a sponsor please raise their hands?

Let us be reminded that when anyone anywhere reaches out for help we want the hand of AA always to be there, and for that we are responsible.

Will [_______] please read A Vision for You from our text (p.164).

Close with the 3rd step prayer

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”

CLICK ON “END MEETING”

BE SURE TO SIGN OUT OF THE ACCOUNT

Get the printable version

AA Logo - Black

A.A. Preamble

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are selfsupporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

Get the Printable Version

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How It Works

Reprinted from pages 58-60 in the book Alcoholics Anonymous.

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it-then you are ready to take certain steps.

At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

Remember that we deal with alcohol-cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power-that One is God. May you find Him now!

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

1

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

2

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Many of us exclaimed, “What an order! I can’t go through with it.” Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:

A

That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.

B

That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.

C

That God could and would if He were sought.

Get the printable version

AA Logo - Black

More About Alcoholism

Reprinted from pages 30-31 in the book Alcoholics Anonymous.

Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics. No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows. Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people. The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.

We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.

We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control. All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals—usually brief—were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization. We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness. Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.

We are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones. Neither does there appear to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men. We have tried every imaginable remedy. In some instances there has been brief recovery, followed always by a still worse relapse. Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic. Science may one day accomplish this, but it hasn’t done so yet.

Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class. By every form of self-deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore non-alcoholic.

If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right-about-face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him. Heaven knows, we have tried hard enough and long enough to drink like other people!

Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums—we could increase the list ad infinitum.

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The 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous

Short Version

1

Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.

2

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3

The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

4

Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

5

Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

6

An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7

Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8

Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9

A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10

Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

12

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

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A Vision For You

From page 164 in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.

Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.

May God bless you and keep you–until then.

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The Promises

From pages 83-84 in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.

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The AA Principles

The AA Principles and Steps

1

We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

Honesty

2

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Hope

3

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Faith

4

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Courage

5

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Integrity

6

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Willingness

7

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Humility

8

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Brotherly Love

9

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Discipline

10

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

Perseverance

11

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Spirituality

12

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Service

Finding AA Books Online

With a lack of meeting space and current difficulty in being able to access printed copies of our AA literature, it’s possible to find two of our primary texts for free online thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Other 12-Step Meetings

There are many 12-step groups in Playa del Carmen, here is a list of several ones we have information about.

Friday 4pm

Closed meeting for Adult Children of Alcoholics.
Fridays at 4pm. In the YANA room on Avenida 45 y Calle 2, Playa del Carmen.

Al-Anon

Learn more about Al-Anon in Playa del Carmen on our webpage aaplayadelcarmen.com/al-anon.

In Tulum and looking for Al-Anon? Send an email to englishalanontulum@gmail.com.

Saturday 4pm

12-step meeting for OA (Overeaters Anonymous)
The focus of this meeting is the 12 steps and traditions of Overeaters Anonymous.
Saturdays at 4pm. In the YANA room on Avenida 45 y Calle 2, Playa del Carmen.

Wednesday at 5:30pm

There is a CA (Cocaine Anonymous) meeting held at Playa Del Carmen NA. On the corner of Calle 34 and Ave 40bis.

Monday at 5:30pm

There is a CoDA (Codependents Anonymous) meeting held at Playa Del Carmen NA. On the corner of Calle 34 and Ave 40bis.

Find more resources about CoDA on the CoDA website.

Multiple meetings a week

To find out the most current information (ie; meeting times and meeting locations) for Narcotics Anonymous in Playa del Carmen, in person meetings of NA at their fellowship hall on the corner of Calle 34 and Ave 40bis. Check out their website naplayadelcarmen.com.

Thursday 4pm

Sex And Love Addicts Anonymous
Thursdays at 10:30am, In the YANA room on Avenida 45 y Calle 2, Playa del Carmen.

Nearby English Speaking AA Meetings

Outside of Playa del Carmen, but still in the general area and need a meeting? There are multiple English AA meetings in the towns around our region, we hope you find what you need!

Find an AA meeting in Cancun

To find out information or to contact someone in Cancun, check out their website aaenglishmeetingcancun.com.

Find AA meetings in Cozumel

To find out information or to contact someone in Cozumel, check out their website cozumelaa.com.

Find AA meetings in Isla Mujeres

To find out information or to contact someone in Isla Mujeres, check out their website islamujeres-aa.com.

Find AA meetings in Merida

To find out information or to contact someone in Merida, check out their website aameridamexico.com.

Find AA meetings in Puerto Adventuras

Eye of the Hurricane is the Puerto Aventuras English Speaking AA Group

When?

  • Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30pm and Saturday at 12pm

Where?

  • Puerto Aventuras School Media Room
    Carretera Chetumal Puerto Juárez KM 269.5 Lote 7, Mza. 24, Plano 3, 77750 Puerto Aventuras, Q.R .

Contact Info

  • Call Gaylita at + 52-984-115-8730 or via WhatsApp +52 984-266-7026

Find AA meetings in Puerto Morelos

Puerto Morelos Garden Meeting Open AA

When?

  • Monday 9am-10am
  • Wednesday 4:30pm-5:30pm
  • Friday 9am-10am
  • Saturday 10am-11am

Where?

  • Puerto Morelos

Find an AA meeting in Tulum

To find out the most current information (ie; meeting times and meeting locations) for AA in Tulum, check out their website aatulum.com.