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 went to my first meeting last night, and it was really good. Close to home and nice and cozy, 7 of us there. I talked for a few minutes, and it was great!!! Just coming to the realization that there are LOTS of people out there going through the same stuff as me and having the same feeling as myself. I have been feeling a bit out of sorts, my house could use a good tidy, and i need to do laundry.....but i can't be bothered. One of the people at the meet talked about how she was feeling kinda crappy so she went for a walk on the beach. I think i will do the same, just try not to wonder how things will unfold with the A and "what if" this and "what if" that. Everything will happen the way it is supposed to.
What helped me in early recovery was the similarities of the people and their stories in the room. I also learned that I wasn't alone in it. "look for the similarities" was a great suggestion for me then and now. I also learned like you that if I do something that another member is doing that helps I will also find help and a different consequence than what I am getting from doing my crazy making. My early sponsor taught me when I use to "what if" that in order to remain balanced I also need to "what if not". I still do that one also years later. The program will work when you work it.
Good for you for getting to ur first F2F mtg. That initial realisation of allowing yourself to settle down, stop obsessing (what if's are a major mind-screw that only keep you in fear of the future) and into the calm reality of this present moment.
I am ACoA (adult child of alcoholic/addict) and for me it was the hugest challenge to simply put my focus onto me in the first place & off of others. It sounds like you can already do that ~ that's great for you. We deserve to think of ourselves. Nothing we can do will influence the A anyway, so it's vital for us to take care of ourselves, put our focus on us and live our best lives.
I am so happy and proud that you were able to share and sincerely like your first group. Glad you found this forum and al-anon and hope you give it a fair shake, you are worth it!
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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
((((Ryan)))) congratulations on taking that first step! I know it's not always easy but what I've found for myself is that it's easier to work my program than it is to live the way I was living. We're always growing, we're always learning .. progress, not perfection - I constantly have to remind myself of that. Keep coming back, I'm so happy for you *hug*
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"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self." -Aristotle
Ryan, I too am happy you have a f2f meeting to go to. I have not and I know it would make a difference if I did have. For me the f2f meetings for me are here. However, if there was a f2f meeting I could attend near me I would go.
Real hugs, and hearing people speak and seeing them speak and listen and react and share is like no other experience so, as long as you have that facility and you are happy and comfortable you go to your meetings and take all the support you can from those who make up that company and remember, coming here and sharing as you have encourages people like me who do not have a f2f to go to, so your sharing is so important here too, so thank you for that share and well done for taking that first difficult step into a room of strangers to trust and share with them also.
As I said at the being of this, I am so happy for you, and just know you will be okay, if you work the programme, the programme works for you too.
Suzannah
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Out of the ruin of my past I have found the fortress of myself and I know how to defend it.
Strive for WISDOM; Seek SERENITY; NEVER compromise your INTEGRITY.
