Good morning everyone:

Todays reading is about the power of service within the program. The writer details coming to the program and finding a place where our opinions mattered. Encouraged to be part of the service, the writer realized this could take the form of everything from setting up/breaking down chairs to working at a convention. Every persons part is important, from sitting as witness to sharing, chairing a meeting and everything in between.

This writing resonates as I think about my earliest days of hearing about alanon (years before I felt I could go to that first meeting), to questioning whether I really belonged there, to sitting and feeling so sad and depleted, to listening to the strength and support of others, to feeling I could share, to understanding just how much alanon had helped (and continues to help) with changes in my life. As a musician, the symbol for crescendo comes to mind:  <    In music this represents starting at a soft or quiet place and growing louder.  For me, it was starting at a sad and defeated place and growing stronger.  The particular isolation that living with alcoholism brings is comforted by the message from the strength of alanon: we are not alone.

I hope everyone enjoys a peaceful Sunday!

Mary

Good Sunday morning, Mary! Thank you for your service!

I really related to your ESH about the topic. I liked the visual cue and explanation... it made sense to me!

Wishing you a peaceful Sunday!

&

  Thanks Mary, and P.

I find today that other people do listen to me- and what i say does matter, from time to time.

I did not have that facility when i began in Alanon. It was not just about the alcoholism-

In a rural district i read voraciously... I would be standing there and talking with someone,

and they would just walk away. I sense that they did not understand some of the words I was using.

I like to greet and farewell people- in their own language- and attempt to pick up a few words- so

that one day i might pick up a conversation. Age is against this, of course.  ...

But I think it is the initiative that propels ourselves forward... with the wind of our higher power at our shoulder.  ...

Thank you Mary for your service and the daily. I have found that when I am uncertain about 'the next right thing', leaning towards service in recovery helps me find my way while lifting my mood. I have always been amazed at how my attitude and outlook can improve almost instantly when I just do something - call another, send an uplifting email or text, show up for a meeting, etc.

I'm a day late for 'this' but it's such a big part of recovery that I wanted to weigh in. Being of service doesn't need to be huge nor is it limited to our programs. I am finding that the smallest of actions, RAOK, etc. matter in big ways! Happy belated Sunday MIP - I had a great day ... hope you did too!