I also attended AA meetings and I was shocked at how welcoming everyone was. The first meeting I attended was packed and I was nervous to walk into a room full of strangers. They made me feel really comfortable and made sure I had everything that I needed. Attending these meetings really made me see the power of a group. Even though it was an open group some of the same people attended the meetings every time. I agree with that people gain strength from a group. When you get a group of people together with some of the same things in common they form a bond. This bond holds them together and allow them to grow together.
