Today's reading is about Tradition 9 - "Our groups, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve." (This is also the quote for the day!)
Today's reminder is "If I take on service responsibilities in my group, it does not mean that I now run the show. Today I will remember that the ultimate authority is a Higher Power who works through all of us."
Many of us, as newcomers, were surprised by the lack of rules in Al-Anon. Many of us before recovery existed with a strict sense of order helping us feel as if we had more control. Many of us expected Al-Anon to be even more rigid than we were!
Instead, we find that we are free to work the Steps at our own pace. We can ask questions of anyone, new or old, as they come up. No one is in charge, and yet everyone is in charge. While it felt unusual, we saw success - more than many organizations we'd been involved with.
As we continue in recovery, we learn to trust the group, which is guided by a Higher Power whose will is expressed in our group conscience. We get to see the Traditions in action, guiding us by suggestions rather than rules. We learn to trust fellow members, each contributing to the well-being of the fellowship, where no one person is in charge!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do remember the point at which I realized that Recovery, with no politics, was more successful and comfortable for me than other organizations I'd been aligned with. Whether it was the workplace or in volunteering, paid or unpaid, I often departed because of the politics and control. Today, I work hard to avoid controlling and chaotic people, places and things as I've had enough to last a lifetime!
I am grateful for the recovery program, as suggested, and appreciate that I can spill my 'brain' onto another, a sponsor or my group and not feel I will be judged or advised. I've also embraced practicing listening, empathy, seeking to understand and being of service in a healthy way vs. 'having all the answers'. I love that I can learn as much from a new member as from a member who's been around a few 24 hours. Al-Anon has shown me that working to learn something new/different each and every day is healthy and trusting the program and process helps me stay centered.
Happy Thursday MIP Family - off to the golf course in a while and loving the fall season, changing tree colors and clear skies we are having! I know it won't last, but just for today, it's AWESOME! Make it a great day!
PosiesandPuppies said
Oct 17, 2019
I too, love that I can take a bit of wisdom from some veteran in the program or someone who has only been here for 24 hours! All ESH matters.
Thank you, Iamhere for your ESH!
I found it interesting when my group had a "Group Conscience" meeting to address some things that were kind of getting out of hand. It happened fairly early in my journey, so I did not play a huge part...I was part of "the group." It was fascinating! That process also helped me- a newbie - to stay... I saw that things that made me uncomfortable were handled in a mature way.
Whew! It is almost the end of the week! Each day I look for some fall color as I commute to work. Here in SoCAL, we don't have much, and much of it comes when it is colder... which tends to be November (if at all). So I enjoyed your joyous share, IAH!
&
Lyne said
Oct 17, 2019
Thanks IAH for your service. I have developed so much respect for our program and how it runs. It's interesting that in some ways my F2F meeting has some serious guidelines that we don't deviate from like only using CAL, following the format of readings at the beginning and end of the meeting, not allowing crosstalk, etc. And yet at the same time, I can do the Steps at my own pace and timing, I am free to share on topic or off, and there is a personal freedom within the boundaries. Grateful member, Lyne
hotrod said
Oct 17, 2019
Good Morning IAH Love the powerful principles of this program tahnks for sharing
mamalioness said
Oct 22, 2019
Thank you Iamhere!! GREAT share and topic..When I came here, I was so happy to see that there was no hard line "you gotta do the steps THIS way" and the Higher Power thing...AS we understand it.....Yea, here we have choice...I love it......Thank you for your service :) :)
Today's reading is about Tradition 9 - "Our groups, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve." (This is also the quote for the day!)
Today's reminder is "If I take on service responsibilities in my group, it does not mean that I now run the show. Today I will remember that the ultimate authority is a Higher Power who works through all of us."
Many of us, as newcomers, were surprised by the lack of rules in Al-Anon. Many of us before recovery existed with a strict sense of order helping us feel as if we had more control. Many of us expected Al-Anon to be even more rigid than we were!
Instead, we find that we are free to work the Steps at our own pace. We can ask questions of anyone, new or old, as they come up. No one is in charge, and yet everyone is in charge. While it felt unusual, we saw success - more than many organizations we'd been involved with.
As we continue in recovery, we learn to trust the group, which is guided by a Higher Power whose will is expressed in our group conscience. We get to see the Traditions in action, guiding us by suggestions rather than rules. We learn to trust fellow members, each contributing to the well-being of the fellowship, where no one person is in charge!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do remember the point at which I realized that Recovery, with no politics, was more successful and comfortable for me than other organizations I'd been aligned with. Whether it was the workplace or in volunteering, paid or unpaid, I often departed because of the politics and control. Today, I work hard to avoid controlling and chaotic people, places and things as I've had enough to last a lifetime!
I am grateful for the recovery program, as suggested, and appreciate that I can spill my 'brain' onto another, a sponsor or my group and not feel I will be judged or advised. I've also embraced practicing listening, empathy, seeking to understand and being of service in a healthy way vs. 'having all the answers'. I love that I can learn as much from a new member as from a member who's been around a few 24 hours. Al-Anon has shown me that working to learn something new/different each and every day is healthy and trusting the program and process helps me stay centered.
Happy Thursday MIP Family - off to the golf course in a while and loving the fall season, changing tree colors and clear skies we are having! I know it won't last, but just for today, it's AWESOME! Make it a great day!
Thank you, Iamhere for your ESH!
I found it interesting when my group had a "Group Conscience" meeting to address some things that were kind of getting out of hand. It happened fairly early in my journey, so I did not play a huge part...I was part of "the group." It was fascinating! That process also helped me- a newbie - to stay... I saw that things that made me uncomfortable were handled in a mature way.
Whew! It is almost the end of the week! Each day I look for some fall color as I commute to work. Here in SoCAL, we don't have much, and much of it comes when it is colder... which tends to be November (if at all). So I enjoyed your joyous share, IAH!