I learned it in grade school in New Hampshire. Fridays were half days in winter and our PE was going to the mountain for the afternoon and getting skiing instruction. I was in a small poor town with no street lights, we were not rich. Equipment was subsidized for the kids who couldn’t afford it. I do wonder if money to support it came from outside our community. There are a few winter Olympians that I graduated highschool with.
I never realized how privileged I was to have that experience until I was in college. I have probably gone to the mountains less than a dozen times since then. Too expensive, and I have better things to do with my time now.





I did need AA to get sober. Also as an atheist, it took me quite a few meetings to find a group that aligned with that. I honestly stayed away from getting help for a long time due to my concerns with the faith aspect.
My GOD was a Group Of Drunks in a meeting that I believed in and we helped each other stay sober.
Haven’t been to a meeting in five years. However I don’t think I would have gotten sober eight years ago without the community I found in AA.
Still very much an atheist. Probably more so now than before.