Hello from Yosemite

 

The conference is over.

What a wonderful time of fellowship, learning sharing and healing.

A very special thanks to our local hosts for the invitation and the fellowship.

 

I encourage alanoners, if you can, attend a conference.

I went to my local one in New Jersey and came away with a lot of knowledge, but this one  in Yosemite really rocked!

Besides awesome scenery I experienced:

   
AA speakers who told life from the other side. This is the first time that I had ever heard an AA speaker. I learned about the life of an alcoholic and how they found recovery – truly frightening and inspirational. I learned A LOT about what alcoholics face and their recovery program

 

Alanon speakers – the first ones I ever heard and  they told MY STORY. They lived my hell, and possibly as bad or maybe even worse…. They faced the same struggles that I faced, they coped as best they could, they broke,  they left, they came back, they SURVIVED. And came out on the other side…. Boy did I need to hear their story……

 

Open AA meetings. I attended those. The first AA meetings I ever attended. It was truly amazing. The shares started I’m “insert a name, I am an alcoholic” Powerful, humbling, spiritual. Enlightening. These alcoholics are chasing recovery and working their program so very hard, and doing it. When they celebrated the time in AA and sober birthdays tears welled in my eyes.

They are at war. With a strong, powerful disease, and for that day and that moment they had the upper hand and were winning. They all said they fight every day not to drink or use…powerful stuff

 

The small meetings, the ones held in the dark around the heaters on the deck at Curry Village. The sharing of our struggles, our heartaches, our triumphs and our blessings. MIP alanoner to alanoner, friend to friend, brother to sister, sister to sister.  We here are involved in a global fellowship, such strength, such power, such love

 

I am grateful to my HP whom I call God to have experienced this miracle.

I am not the same person who flew into Fresno and drove North to Yosemite.

I have learned so much and am so very very grateful

 

In recovery and love

 

Megan

 

 

I've never been to a conference but would like to. Thank you for sharing your experience and now you have wet my appetite to go to one! This picture was just breathtaking!

Megan,

I am so glad that you had a great experience.

I remember a few years ago going with my "A" to a picnic given by a treatment center that he went to. At the end they did a recvery circle. Starting with the longest time and going down to 24 hours. I was bawling. People with 30 years clapping for the people with 24 hours. And there in the middle was my guy. It was a great experience.

I have found AA meetings very helpful. Any kind of understanding of my "A" is a true gift.

Hopefully sometime in the future I will be able to attend a conference like you went to.

Thanks for sharing the pictures and the ESH you received.

Much Love,

Hi Megan,

Thanks for your share. Thanks for your enthusiasm and support for alcoholics and alanoners alike. I have been to an AA meeting and heard speakers. I am humbled when I listen. And I think to myself I want to be like them in recovery.

In support,

Nancy

(((((((Megan)))))))))

Having just come back from the Mass. AA convention I understand very well how you are feeling.  It is truly awesome to have so much ES&H in one location.    AA speakers and open AA meetings were a cornerstone in my recovery.  I had to hear how the other half lived in order to learn to detach, understand, and have hope for my husband.  This is the 4th year I have been the convention - and each year I bring a someone who never has been.  For me it is always interesting and exciting to watch their reactions.  I am so glad to hear you had a great time.  I hope the feeling stays with you for a long time. 

Karen

Just awsome! In pictures and words. Thanks for sharing! Live strong, Karilynn