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Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and only peace of mind and serenity surrounded you. My weekend was wierd...uh different in many ways and a little off balance. Thanks to the program I can use "little off" today and not anything more.Truck is fixed...that's a biggie and all the fears were unfounded. Yeah I didn't complain about that because.... Saturday mornings SOS meeting was on silence. Great topic and meeting. - My mind was on the airport - Didn't go to the school reunion with my brothers because of several real issues and my desire not to be unrealistic and make matters (financial mostly) worse. It was on Oahu 300 miles by air away and whatever it wasn't an issue. - I need to go back to the airport and see that security gal - Sunday morning home meeting was awesome. AA at the bay (the avatar picture is a part of the location scenery) and 60 to 70 people doing some supportive sharing just creates soooo much grace for me it can't help but open up the possibilities. - I will do the apology today. It needs to happen because she is still remembering and possibly still hurt and resentful -
I had asked my wife to pick up three leis for my family's arrival and I made a 4th one to be put in the ocean in memory of my dead sister's birthday. She was a great person very loving and supportive when I wasn't ready. Picked the flowers and the fern and got thru the frustration of creating what came out in the end fine. - It doesn't matter if she accepts the apology or not. That's her right. Apologize promptly or....carry the guilt and shame. -
Went to a baby shower!! geeeez!! Al-Anon baby shower with one other male member there with me for the moment. Gad you gals can get crazy! I haven't heard such whooooping and hollering from women in one smallish room since I don't know when. I felt at home because these are all my recovery sisters and I am accepted never begrudgingly. It was fun and not football for once.
Off to the airport. Didn't drive around and around. parked the car. Walked across the traffic lanes to get to the arrival area. (traffic lanes...no traffic). There she is. It looks like the gal. How could I berate a person and then forget exactly what she looks like? Sad. I think she sees me but she turns to go to another post. I don't chase after her. Let God arrange the event. It will be 15 or more minutes before the planes come and I can wait. My car is parked LOL. And then there she is standing in the traffic lanes like her job tells her to do. She is the same women because she looks at me and unemotionally says. "I know who you are. I remember you." This isn't applause material and I approach her and ask if she can come closer. Anonymity. It's my business with her this time not anyone elses as it was when I started the need for a 10th step. I didn't stop to care then who else heard and or what was thought of it. I make my apology relieving her of any responsibility for what I did and using nothing to justify what I did. What I did was self seeking, self centeredness, self pity. It might have been selfless if I had held on to what I had been taught in program. Reality was the need for a 10th step. Up close she was also pregnant and willing to meeting my apology with acceptance. It was done and I was lighter by about 20 to 30 pounds of guilt and shame and worry for her. Amazing how my compulsion to destroy what I fear acts faster than a lightening strike. I have a slogan "Think" and another reason to use it. Brothers came in, leis and kisses and life has gone on.
I am glad this program has a 10th step and I have learned the consequences of using it elsewise I would have worked up only to step nine and then returned to the insanity of my own making.
Mahalo for all of you for your active support. (((((hugs)))))
That is a cool story Jerry... and kudos to you for going back to apologize, as opposed to just "thinking about it"... What I like about our program, is that ulimately you made that apology for you, in the name of self-care. Though we always like it better when our apologies are received and accepted - I think that "20lb burden" would have been lifted, even if she had given you the middle finger salute and refused to hear any of it....
Thanks for sharing...
Tom
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"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
Good job brother! Thanks for sharing that with us. It is such a gift of this program, being taught about making amends when we need to. And doing it as soon as possible is the best! Keeps my back from getting sore from lugging around all that extra weight!
I loved the image of you in the baby shower too! Glad you went and that you enjoyed yourself!
Once again you have left me speechless. If I was that lady I might have cried when you apologized to me. This program is a gift. We need it even when we don't realize that we need it. Speaking of babies we have had no update on your sweet one. How is the darling grandbaby? Give her an extra hug, kiss and tickle for me. Thanks for the life lesson again. Much love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.