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 had a great f2f meeting last night! It was empowering! We got to laughing so hard we were almost in tears. The longer members shared so many stories of strengh and hope from their time in Al-Anon, it was wonderful! It's meetings like this that can give you the strength you need to make your life better. And it is great to watch the progress of others members come such a long way since they first joined. I can't help feel such joy for them! I don't know about everyone else, but my Al-Anon group has saved me many times!!
I have never been to a f2f meeting (maybe one day I will take the courage to do it - much easier hidden behind a monitor) but only from this board (from reading the other post), I start to understand that it brings more then I would have never thought and that I have a lot to learn about myself.
Next, I would like to understand how to start working on the 12 steps. I read them more then once but do not know how to apply them.
wow, what does al-anon do for me?!!?? I guess it has completely turned my life around. It helped me to grow up well (still working on that!!), it turned my misery and tears into serenity and joy. I wanted to die and now I wake up each morning so happy to be alive in so many ways. Al-anon has helped me to turn my life around.
I love attending meetings! I am in transition right now and have been attending meetings in different parts of the country. Its been fascinating- so many different ways to do a meeting!! wow!
I love that there are meetings everywhere I go. Before I chose my most recent "move" to a new city for a new job and a new life, I made sure there was a strong al-anon meeting schedule there. This is how important this program is to me. Hugs, J.
I lovingly call Al-Anon the penicillin for my illness. It occured to me one day that when I am sick and go to the doctor and am prescribed antibiotics that if I don't take all of the medication that I will most likely become sick again. The same applies to Al-Anon if I don't take all of it I will become sick again. So I go to meetings, have a sponsor and am working the steps.
I had a major fear of Step 4 when I started but I'm almost finished with it and it wasn't near as painful as my imagination had told me it was going to be. As for Step 5 my sponsor assured me that there is absolutely nothing I could have done in my life that she probably hasn't done as well so relax I'm not the only one that has made mistakes. I love that woman.
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Everything I have ever let go of has claw marks all over it.
The "program of Alanon" is the basis for many to find a new way of life but for me it was the members, my adopted brothers and sisters, that reached out a hand to pull me from the black hole. To find the program itself w/o the help of it's members surely would have not been so paramount in my life.
Alanon's life principals, combined with a discovery of spiritual principals I could believe in are what has sustained my sanity.
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
Al-Anon has given me the tools to take my life back. It has helped me to help my children understand and love their father, even when he was still using, while at the same time protect ourselves from the chaos.
There's just no way to describe how grateful I am. I just keep showing up to do my part.
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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
It keeps me balanced. It gives me hope. It allows me comfort. It reminds me I have choices. It helps me to stay focused on myself. It is gentle when I need that in my life due to trials. It is direct when I am ready for that. It keeps things simple. It helps me to grow. It puts it in terms that I can understanding. It helps me be my best. It helps me realize all that I am grateful for. It gets me back to healthy thinking.
oh my the lists goes on and on and on...these are a few of mine right off the top of my head, I look forward to reading others' answers.
