u/crazycatcraig678

I'm 15 years clean and have a great life thanks to NA. But my definition of a great life doesn't really fit the conventional mold. I feel that a lot of the time, NA (or at least some sects of it) prescribe the "success sequence" - job, marriage, children, house, white picket fence. I just don't believe in all of it. Not for me anyway. Pretty much every speaker I saw at the World Convention seemed to list all of this, and that main speaker, Anthony, said "If you don't have kids, you're missing out." Having a chosen the childfree life, I have to say I felt alienated. Not to mention, the survey that asked if you're able to have a relationship and be a parent. I've published a book and gotten tenure as a full professor, but somehow, those things don't count?

I love the program and all, and I have a nice small network I fellowship with, but I also have a larger network outside the fellowship. Some of the rhetoric is having me rethink my membership. I've spoken with my sponsor about this, but I keep going back and forth about it.

So I unfriended and blocked someone I know from my recovery fellowship for calling me an awful name and disrespecting my identity on social media. It wasn't our first go-round. I called them out on double standards before I said "I'll be polite if we see each other in the rooms but let's limit our interactions to that."

Now I'm a little skittish about the possibility of seeing them in person; they come to my Home Group once in a while. I was hurt; that was enough to tell them to bounce.

I'm aware I have a character defect of oversensitivity and am examining my part in the exchange. Anybody have any ESH with any of these kinds of awkward situations they can share? I'm trying to not share about them in the meeting when they're in the room, but it's just so tempting.

A student came into my office wearing a Metallica T-shirt. "Nice shirt," I said. "Great band."

"That's the name of a band?" the student asked.

After student left, I sobbed for 10 minutes. True story.

Hello! I'm being considered to step in as chair of my division next year after the current one steps down. I'm trying to arrange a meeting with the Dean (at my chair's encouragement) to get information and I have a few questions. I'll be asking him what his expectations of me would be in that role. What other questions could I ask? And how soon is too soon to ask about things like course release and pay? I haven't made a decision but want to get information first (I am leaning towards "yes" at the moment). I'm also planning on shadowing my current chair to get a feel for her job. I'd ESPECIALLY love to hear from any chairs or deans. Any advice on any of this?