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 am currently trying to get up enough nerve to attend my first Alanon meeting. I think the hardest thing is the realization that nothing has changed or will change in my life with my AH unless I take the first step. Please tell me again all the benefits of Alanon. I need a push to actually take the first step.
It's always hard to attend your first meeting. But once you are there you will begin to see that the people in the rooms will make you feel comfortable. They all shar a common bond with you and that is Alcoholism. Al anon has helped me put the focus on me and to fix me not my A. It has given me wonderful tools to use and a worlwide fellowship that I call my famiy. The first step is Letting it Begin with you. Once yu start changing maybe your A will to and he may evan want to attend an AA meeting. Remember, you did not cause it, you cannot control it and you can not cure it. You can become Aware of it, Accept it and than take Action. I wish you well.
Dealing with the unknown can be scarey to all of us......but for me going into my first meeting my mindset was "what have I got to loose?". I just knew there was no one there as messed up as me and was I ever wrong!!!LOL...... You have nothing to loose and a WORLD of happiness and peace to gain. Since I began al anon there have been sooo many wonderful changes in my life. I've learned how to let go and let God, I've learned how to use the "tools" to handle my obsessing, controling, caretaking codependant behavior. It has been confirmed that I am NOT crazy as I once thought:) and I have met some of the nicest,most sincere and loving people in my life inside those walls....... Again you have EVERYTHING to gain and NOTHING to loose. I promise you if you take the steps and work the program it will be a journey that you will cherish for the rest of your life, a life that will be filled, with peace and clarity...... Shellyj123
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Put down the magnifying glass and pick up the mirror!
I love your nick name and that should give u a huge idea of why you would benefit if u go to Al-Anon. At this point u have nothing to loose give us a try and see how ufeel in a few months Louise
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 understand. It helps me be my best. It helps me realize all that I am grateful for. It gets me back to healthy thinking.
I found inside that room the most humble and caring people even to take positions of guidance in my life. I didn't want to go to my first two meetings because I wasn't ready. When I first went for sure, I went for me. I have never ever regretted going and then staying.
Let us know how it goes for you. We just love applauding newcomers.
I went because I had to just to find some serenity. I continue because we are the funniest people I know. Have you tried to explain Aism to a friend or family member? They love us, they want what is best for us but they do not understand us.
Every single person I have met in alanon "gets it" And it is such an incredible feeling of acceptence.
Go to at least 6. I swear it won't hurt you, it will begin to help you.
You can do it. It is way easier than living with an active A.
The awkward part is walking in and not knowing anybody. But the warm greeting I got made me stay, knowing that they understand my situation and can empathize with my feelings made it worthwhile. The things I learn and the support I get keep me coming back.
Welcome to the MIP family! Here you will find great experience, hope, strength, wisdom and humor (good for the ). There are so many reasons why face to face meetings are good for you.
Your recovery has to be about and for you, regardless if the AH chooses sobriety or not. It's about taking back your life and living the life you so richly deserve. It's about living strong.
It's a family unlike no other. Eventhough my beloved hubby passed away last July and I no longer deal directly with an active A I still attend meetings. I still come here. Why? Because it's a place of healing. I can still learn from others, and I can help others. I can't imagine my life without Alanon. I am a lifer regardless if I deal with addicts or not. The tools you will gain will take you through the rest of your life. I can't tell you how many times I have used my Alanon skills at work as well as in dealing with just the stresses of everyday life. It would be my wish that everyone would work some kind of Alanon or 12 step program. It's such an amazing experience.
Let me put it to you this way. My biggest fear is drowning. I am a very strong swimmer. When I first came here, I was drowning in fear, doubt and all those mixed up emotions. I felt like I was dropped in the ocean with no life rope and nothing to hold on to. I kept swimming and swimming towards that recovery shore. Problem was, I kept getting pushed back. I had no rope, no lifevest, nothing. I was getting exhausted and was ready to give up. But lo and behold someone tossed me a rope and life jacket. As long as I kept swimming, my Alanon family stood on the shore pulling me in. Yes, I let go of the rope. Yes I swam backwards (did I tell you I have no sense of direction?) and faltered. That's natural. But as long as I grabbed that rope and kept swimming towards that recovery shore, I could feel my Alanon family pulling me in and cheering me on. Nobody cares what kind of swimmer you are. We are your rope. We have your back. We welcome you with open arms. We will always be there for you: here, at face to face meetings, in the chat room. No matter where you go in the world there is always a family member to welcome you. You are never alone in this journey of recovery. That's why I am here. That's why I will never leave.
Much love and blessings to you and your family. Please keep coming back to us.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty <---the cat
-- Edited by Karilynn at 10:41, 2009-01-18
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
Great share, you put it as good as I have ever heard. I have been going to Al-Anon meetings twice a week for a little over two years, but if I had never been to a meeting, after reading your post I would get the phone book out and find one. As always keep the ESH coming.
I'm scared to go to my first alanon meeting in my home town. It took me long enough time to get the courage to go when i was away at college - away at college being about 3 hours from home! There it was the fear to face reality - i have alcoholics in my life and i can't do anything to control it or fix it or anything to make it end - and the knowledge of knowing there will be no one i know accept the person i'm going to the meeting with. The difference here is this is my home town therefore there may be people there that know I know which includes people that know me and my family (it's a small town and my dad grew up here his whole life on top of it plus my mom and i have lived her most of mine).
So I am scaredddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd even though i know it felt good being at the one i had gone to away from home. Heck at that one I went back to my dorm room that night w/a book I find helpful and still use.
Take it from a fairly new Al Anon member...these mtgs always make me feel better. You think that no one else can understand what you are going through, but they can! They've been there...done that...
I go to 2 or 3 meetings a week as my schedule and Weather permits. Each meeting has it's own personality, so if you try one and don't like it, try another! The members are all so friendly and willing to share. I have learned so much. I went seeking advice on my AH and wound up with advice on ME...that's exactly what I needed! You'll find the best friends you've ever had...
Here you will find great experience, hope, strength, wisdom and humor (good for the 
). There are so many reasons why face to face meetings are good for you.
I felt like I was dropped in the ocean with no life rope and nothing to hold on to. I kept swimming and swimming towards that recovery shore. Problem was, I kept getting pushed back. I had no rope, no lifevest, nothing. I was getting exhausted and was ready to give up. But lo and behold someone tossed me a rope and life jacket. As long as I kept swimming, my Alanon family stood on the shore pulling me in. Yes, I let go of the rope. Yes I swam backwards (did I tell you I have no sense of direction?
) and faltered. That's natural. But as long as I grabbed that rope and kept swimming towards that recovery shore, I could feel my Alanon family pulling me in and cheering me on. Nobody cares what kind of swimmer you are. We are your rope. We have your back. We welcome you with open arms. We will always be there for you: here, at face to face meetings, in the chat room. No matter where you go in the world there is always a family member to welcome you. You are never alone in this journey of recovery. That's why I am here. That's why I will never leave. 
