The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I was reading here that someones A is in recovery with no program. He turned his life around himself. That in itself IS the program.
A personal program of recovery does not have to have AA in it. Most A's find they need AA. But some can decide enough is enough and work every day to choose not to use that day, choose to be honest, choose to be helpful, choose to be real.
A personal program of recovery is that, we each need to make our own. For me it is not cussing, looking for the good, taking my own inventory, working physically hard building my home and keeping up my sanctuary.
It is being the best person I can be with hp's guidance. I don't go to Face to Face. I have gleaned all I need from mip and my own personal reading of AA lit. and alanon lit and paying attention to A's.
I recommend face to face. I believe in it. I just am not able to sit that long and have physical limitations.
Just wanted to make it clear that a recovery plan is unique to each one of us. AA and alanoners.
I came to be self actualized, I know me, I care about me. I know what i want, know my limitations, know how far I will go to protect or to give. I know how I am with A's. I like knowing for sure they are very sick and sad people. I am very empathetic, I also know not to baby them.
That took awhile for me to get.
anyway hugs ya'll, love,debilyn who wishes she could add cheesecake to her program
I agree. Different people can recover from different things in different ways. Some people can sit in the rooms of these programs for mere minutes and have major changes in their lives, some can sit in these rooms for decades and never change some of their character defects. Some can do thru religious organizations, some thru therapy, some thru determination. Me, I personally need ALL the help I can get.
Things I am "working" on recovering from . . .
Judgmental behaviors (boy, I struggle with this one a lot still)
Co-Dependency
Al-Anonism
ACOAism
People Pleasingism
I am a Recovering "Thrower" (I have thrown many an inanimate object in my day)
and many, many other areas.
This is why I need ALL the help I can get.
Great post Debilyn - glad to see you back with us again. Missed you. Not to crazy about Cheesecake, but can I add Chocolate Cake to my program???
Peace to you my friend, Rita
-- Edited by Rita G at 10:54, 2007-02-27
__________________
No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
Good post Debilyn, I'll definatly vote on the cheescake! My A made it on his own, but I definately wouldn't have gotten to where I am (a looonng way from where I started) without this board and this program!I couldn't get to f2f either, but have come to the on-line meetings here, which are a God (HP)-send. A lot of people go to chat too and get a lot of help from people there. Regardless of where you go on this board, you are bound to make many friends who understand exactly where you're at! How did you and all the critters make it through all that snow and hard winter? I've been thinking about you all through it, Love TLC
I agree, the term "program" is not monopolized by AA etc. My A got sober years ago, and maintained sobriety, with heavy involvement in a Christian church that did a lot of service for the down and out community.
The 12 steps did not suddenly appear fully formed out of nothing, the spiritual traditions it grew from are many, and have been with us human beings for thousands of years.
It's just that AA/Al Anon are structured and stable, which is what most people need at first. It can be given whole to a suffering person, and help them begin their life long journey to wellness and peace. It doesn't promote one religion or politic over another, it welcomes all comers. It's a wonderful place to start, no matter where you end up.
That's three votes for cheese cake. Dang that sounds good right now.