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Hello All, I have always taken a little pride (not always a good thing) in the fact that I have "NEVER" been late to one of our Al-Anon meetings, and I go twice a week for the past two years. Sometimes members will drag in 5 minutes or so late, not me I'm always there 15 or 20 minutes early to make coffee, etc. So with that in mind I was thinking about that accomplishment, feeling good about it and patting myself on the back. Proud of my "never been late string". Then I realized to my horror that I had forgotten, I "was" late, but just one time. It was the first meeting I ever attended-----------Yep, I realize now I never had a string to begin with because I was over 5 years late to my very 1st meeting. How many of you like me were late to your very 1st Al-Anon Meeting??? RLC
I certainly could have used the information and support years earlier but I'm not sure I would have been as ready to accept it fully so I think I got there just when I was meant to. :)
i'm also thinking about my partner, who can't stand to be late to the meetings. it upsets her; thinks it is a character fault to be late... i use to be like that, too. i've learned, since, that i'll get to where i'm going when i get there. and although i'll try to be on time for all my meetings and appointments, i will not let the fact that "i am imperfect" poison my serenity!!!
blessings, cj
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time to stop going to the hardware store to buy bread.
I don't know. I think I was just about on time. I felt like I had been working the program and just didn't know it for a couple of years. But I think I wouldn't have been ready to really stick with it. I would have been one of the many who come in an then lapse for awhile then come back when they really do finally hit their bottom.
BUT, I think I was in the program for at east a year and a half before I was on time to more than 2 meetings in a row. I am better now. I can often go several meetings without being late to one now. Getting more consistant and reliable all the time. That's progress.
In recovery,
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~Jen~
"When you come to the edge of all you know you must believe in one of two things... there will be earth on which to stand or you will be given wings." ~Unknown
Those wise old AA's say that if you get to a meeting before the "amen" of the last prayer then you're right on time. So, that being the case, I have never been late, always right on time for what I needed to hear. I suppose I might have been late to my first meeting, then again, the day before I went, I didn't even know it was alanon that I needed so, I guess I got here when I was supposed to.
I just call them aborted attempts (ha ha). I can't tell you how many of those I had before my first meeting. And when I finally got the courage to go in, I would "strategically maneuver" my way into the meetings and outta the meetings.
5 minutes late so they would hug or want to talk to me and exit stage right immediately after the closing prayer! It takes a lot of courage to attend when you have noooooooo idea of what this program is all about and trying to hide the identity of your A's.
thanks for the thought provoking post, Maria
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If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
