Today's author entered the rooms of Al-Anon very grim and serious. The smiles and laughter among members were hard to understand. As time went by, and they kept coming back, our author became able to laugh -- even about their own role in painful situations. The gift of laughter meant no longer seeing one's self as a victim, full of self-pity and control. Now they can take things more lightly.
Today's reminder: If I take a step back and look at this day as if I were watching a movie, I am sure to find at least a moment where I can enjoy some comic relief..
Quote from Ethel Barrymore: "You grow up the day you have the first real laugh -- at yourself."
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I know some things that happen to us in life are not funny at all. Some things are tragic. And when I started in Al-Anon and noticed the other members smiling while I shared -- I thought they were secretly laughing at me.
But I have found humor to be a key to my recovery. I think it's healthy humor when I can laugh at myself. With Al-Anon friends, I can say, OMG, I once thought that smashing bottles would get my husband to stop drinking! Can you believe it? It's hilarious that I was so silly, I didn't know what I didn't know. I empathize with the person I was then ... her pain was real ... but some of her ideas were just nuts! And my Al-Anon peeps can lovingly laugh with me, because they know I don't take myself that seriously.
I love funny slogans, like "not my circus, not my monkeys." I love "courage to change the only person I can change -- me!" I love the one about how many Al-Anons it takes to screw in a light bulb -- please reply if you know the punch line. Sometimes a good laugh is just what I need.
MIP friends, can you share any humor you have found on this Al-Anon journey?
Daffodils said
Jul 23, 2021
Good Morning Freetime. Thanks for your service/ESH. I am still laughing about your post the other day..."Don't set yourself on fire to keep somebody else warm"... I enjoy twists on sayings like : Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. That way, you'll be a mile ahead and have his shoes! PS: I cheated and googled the punchline...None. They wait for the light bulb to screw itself. LOL Have a wonderful day
Lyne said
Jul 23, 2021
Thanks FT for your service and above shares. Humor and laughter were missing from my life for many many years. That was tragic in itself, but it seemed that my childhood and early life were indeed very difficult. But I lacked the tools from program to change my thinking, look for gratitude and assets, and learn to see the good I do have, and embrace it. Laughing is one of my favorite things now, with my granddaughter, friends, movies, and God bless my dog--she provides me with joy everyday. Grateful member.
DM2021 said
Jul 23, 2021
Thank you as well FT for your service, todays reading and to you, Daffodils and Lyne for everyone's ESH.
I do enjoy the humorous parts of life and always love the saying: "If you don't want someone to get your goat,
don't tell them where you tied it up!"
{{HUGS}} MIP Family!!
Iamhere said
Jul 23, 2021
Thank you Freetime for your service and the daily. Thanks to all for your shares & ESH. I found the joy and laughter at Al-Anon unnerving at first and truly wondered if all were phony. I was in so much pain and felt so defeated and angry ... I did not see how they were as they were. Of course, the meeting itself was different than the 'meeting' before and after and I did find enough hope during meetings to return. I truly did not believe I would ever find humor in how this disease has run through my life, home and being.
I am grateful to admit I was wrong. I can look back and see how utterly insane and even funny at times some things were. Humor and laughter are a huge part of my life now and in how I seek out joy in my days. I arrived so utterly serious and black/white in my thinking that my insane brain told me it was 'wrong' to have any joy when I had 2 self-destructing addicted children in my home. I had completely surrendered to the insanity of the disease instead of a power greater than I. Old habits die hard!
We are on day one of a heat wave in my area. I truly enjoy summer - heat waves...not so much. I am grateful that I don't have to be out in it all day long. Happy Friday all - make it a great day!!
a4l said
Jul 23, 2021
" her pain was real, but some of her ideas were nuts!" Oh i felt this one, this describes me too at one point, and yes, it's ok to remember that with humour. Thanks for the service and the share FT; and the shares above. What I'm taking from this today is a type of forgiveness. I can be my own worst critic. No actually I am my worst critic. Sort of seems like I've learned to remember my mistakes with harshness towards myself. Harshness accompanied with shame. I will try this out. Consciously Looking back with humour rather than punishment.
mamalioness said
Jul 25, 2021
Freetime thank you for your post and your share. I remember and now I can laugh about it but I remember how clever my mother was in hiding her liquor, she would put it in the toilet bowl in the top part of it and she had the most ingenious ways of hiding her liquor and it was almost like a sick Easter egg hunt for me of course at the time it was not funny but I also recovered and alcohol or I should say I am recovery, I can look back at the things she did to hide her liquor And I can sort of laugh about it now, she was so clever about how she would hide her liquor and I thought well thats typical less she was very clever about everything she did so why not be really sharp about hiding her booze? I can smile about it now because Ive had enough recovery under my belt to see the funny and things that I didnt used to be able to
Maresie888 said
Jul 26, 2021
I think now it was ludicrous to even entertain the idea that some people I know were ever going to stop being an addict. Talk about delusional. They are destined for life long residency in that occupation .
My cousin once hooked me into his truly impressive chaos. I was ready wiling and able to embrace chaos most of my life. Now I run from it. I cannot get away fast enough
I clearly got some secondary gain from all the drama
Life on life's terms was and is difficult
How hard it is to be living in reality?
Maresie
-- Edited by Maresie888 on Monday 26th of July 2021 12:16:11 PM
Today's author entered the rooms of Al-Anon very grim and serious. The smiles and laughter among members were hard to understand. As time went by, and they kept coming back, our author became able to laugh -- even about their own role in painful situations. The gift of laughter meant no longer seeing one's self as a victim, full of self-pity and control. Now they can take things more lightly.
Today's reminder: If I take a step back and look at this day as if I were watching a movie, I am sure to find at least a moment where I can enjoy some comic relief..
Quote from Ethel Barrymore: "You grow up the day you have the first real laugh -- at yourself."
----------------
I know some things that happen to us in life are not funny at all. Some things are tragic. And when I started in Al-Anon and noticed the other members smiling while I shared -- I thought they were secretly laughing at me.
But I have found humor to be a key to my recovery. I think it's healthy humor when I can laugh at myself. With Al-Anon friends, I can say, OMG, I once thought that smashing bottles would get my husband to stop drinking! Can you believe it? It's hilarious that I was so silly, I didn't know what I didn't know. I empathize with the person I was then ... her pain was real ... but some of her ideas were just nuts! And my Al-Anon peeps can lovingly laugh with me, because they know I don't take myself that seriously.
I love funny slogans, like "not my circus, not my monkeys." I love "courage to change the only person I can change -- me!" I love the one about how many Al-Anons it takes to screw in a light bulb -- please reply if you know the punch line. Sometimes a good laugh is just what I need.
MIP friends, can you share any humor you have found on this Al-Anon journey?
I do enjoy the humorous parts of life and always love the saying: "If you don't want someone to get your goat,
don't tell them where you tied it up!"
{{HUGS}} MIP Family!!
I am grateful to admit I was wrong. I can look back and see how utterly insane and even funny at times some things were. Humor and laughter are a huge part of my life now and in how I seek out joy in my days. I arrived so utterly serious and black/white in my thinking that my insane brain told me it was 'wrong' to have any joy when I had 2 self-destructing addicted children in my home. I had completely surrendered to the insanity of the disease instead of a power greater than I. Old habits die hard!
We are on day one of a heat wave in my area. I truly enjoy summer - heat waves...not so much. I am grateful that I don't have to be out in it all day long. Happy Friday all - make it a great day!!
I think now it was ludicrous to even entertain the idea that some people I know were ever going to stop being an addict. Talk about delusional. They are destined for life long residency in that occupation .
My cousin once hooked me into his truly impressive chaos. I was ready wiling and able to embrace chaos most of my life. Now I run from it. I cannot get away fast enough
I clearly got some secondary gain from all the drama
Life on life's terms was and is difficult
How hard it is to be living in reality?
Maresie
-- Edited by Maresie888 on Monday 26th of July 2021 12:16:11 PM