Hi family, my name is Predrag (nickname 'Kole'), and I am an alcoholic from Belgrade/Serbia/Europe.

Before I stopped drinking, my life was terrible, my family and me were on the edge of the blade to fall apart for the second time. I was powerless, and decided to stop drinking to save my life and try to save my family. It was successful in first three months, my family stay together but in "cold" relationships with me. I was nervous and with temptations or wrong ambitions about alcohol and first drink. I know that I need help and that I can't do anything alone. I was against hospitals and doctors. I read a short article in newspapers about AA and one Englishman who is trying to establish AA group on Serbian language in Belgrade. English-speaking groups existed there from year 2000. For himself, even that he is not drinking for last 20 years he said that he is an alcoholic in recovery. In that very moment, I realized that I am an alcoholic too and that AA can be my future road to better life. I decided to contact AA. A fellow from Belgrade's Hope Group replied immediately and invited me to come to a meeting. I was full of fear and confused but I decided to attend the meeting. There I meet wonderful people, sober and happy with very similar stories like mine. They grant me a 24-hour coin and teach me about ONE DAY AT THE TIME wisdom. Today I don't drink! At the first glance I felt that AA is for me, that there is something what is perfect for ordinary human being and complex persons (like I am)... sounds familiar? From that day started my NEW second life -- that only we in AA have by grace of Higher Power and with love and help of our AA friends. Until now, I attend almost every meeting. We have now in Belgrade 5 AA meetings and 1 Al-Anon a week. And here I am now SOBER for more than two years, healthy, happy, full of love, and willing to help and understand any human being. Together with my wonderful wife (Al-Anon member) who supports me strongly with love, and my children, who are proud of me and show me their love every day. My dream is to become better person, to grow along spiritual lines, to become a "giving and not expecting back" person with love, energy and serenity for any human being. Goals for future are to improve my family in best way I can and to spread AA idea and message over Belgrade and Serbia. Before, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW, now I KNOW THAT I DON'T NOW or I KNOW ONLY A LITTLE. With best wishes and LOVE in fellowship, faithfully yours, Kole. Thank you for letting me share.

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