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.
It was a right on decision to attend the Super Saturday Al-Anon Family Group meeting. After the usual opening protocol the secretary announced the topic of "Self Focus" and the membership stayed on it. The feedback was as usual for me awesome. I'm amazed still at the ability to learn from new perceptions and of course grateful. One of the members shared with me after the meeting that she had her "Aha" moment. That moment when everything in life shifts and clarity comes and you never want to go back to how it use to be while also knowing that you don't have to...it's a choice, always was a choice and now she had much better choices and desires. She shared with me the gap between what it use to be like and what it had become was very little wider than an eight of an inch maybe and when she crossed that distance every thing changed. She suddenly found herself in a new world as a new person. Her trigger with a breast cancer screen and the consequence was total freedom from fear, anxiety and the need to control life.
I've witnessed so many of these miracles including my own and it will never cease to amaze me (thank God) how everything changes...mind, body, spirit and emotions. We become new people...new creations and everything is different and even the alcoholics and addicts over time change as a result of being in contact. No they don't become saints or the gods we really have been wanting to worship...they just become changed. This member related to me that her alcoholic...and her family, have come to relax around her and are actually giving back to her what she has learned to give to herself and to others. She is twelve stepping and doing it unconsciously without desiring to change anyone. Of course life is not perfect for her. She knows it will never be that way ever and it's no longer an issue.
One of the things she mentioned to me was that she has come to the behavior of "loving anyway"...loving her alcoholic and anyone for exactly who they are without wanting them to be different and at the very same time loving her self as much. I have come to learn and believe, as a member of this fellowship that this is the most clearest and nearest example of "God love" I have ever witnessed. It is so powerful and it moves others who come in contact with it.
I have more time in recovery than this woman and I knew I was in front of "the teacher". She let go and stopped struggling. She stopped fighting the process and practiced trusting it and that it could do for her what she saw it doing for others. She came to believe that what she was witnessing was a better reality and then that eight inch she surrendered. What a totally remarkable event. Her whole aura is in one peace...what and how she talks is exactly how she walks. I will always want that and that is why I keep coming back.
Had to share it. Love you all (unconditionally of course) (((((hugs)))))
I love it when you post this kind of experience for us. Your ESH as an old timer in this program really is what I need sometimes. In my town I, at 2 1/2 years am considered one of the experienced members of our group. Sometimes that just makes me laugh. LOL I really need you and the others here who have much more experience than I, to help me, and my small group. Getting ESH from all of you all over the world helps me get out of my small bubble.
Thank you for being here.
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
I got some opportunities to practice that over thanksgiving. It came along. I was able to surrender although it took a moment and then it flowed. My A mom, my A niece, lots of alkies all around me giving me opportunities to love 'em anyway. It comes with lots of smiling and laughing, too. A little teasing sometimes. Gentle. Everyone just bloomed in that acceptance which is really contageous once you get it all rolling, you know.
Its so great to be in the presence, isn't it? Just rubs off on ya, too. Also, you got that island thing going with all that aloha flowing around, generally, everywhere too. The most healing place on the planet. That was why I got to live there for 5 years- I needed to heal and that was the only place I could do it, I believe. I re-found al-anon there and the incredible gentle loving groups there. No groups are like those groups, believe me. I walked in beauty there for the first time in my life. I was literally saved there in those groups, on those islands. I was so messed up. SO messed up! GEESH! And I still am, if I don't keep practicing like I did over thanksgiving
Love 'em anyway. Just love 'em anyway. And then again, love anyway! Hugs, J.
Yes Jerry, I feel that too. This was the first holiday for me that I was able to be calm in anticipation, preparation and actual reality. Just the change of one has a ripple effect so with less chaos or insanity it is easier to love anyway. The alanon tools work if you work them and handing the steering wheel to HP helps too.
Thanks for your share. hugs, ddub
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"Choices are the hinges of destiny." Pythagoras You can't change the past, but you can change the future.