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.
Please bear with a moment. This isn't a political statement. But I can't let the moment go by with making note of the historical significance of this day.
In my lifetime, I really never thought I would see this day. I am awed by the historical significance of the moment. A new president. A president of Afro-American descent. My mother instilled in us a sense of duty when it came to always voting. I have never missed watching an innauguration. She always allowed us to stay home from school that day in order to watch history taking place. She was a civil rights advocate. She cried when Kennedy was killed. She always instilled in us to love any human being regardless of the color of their skin, or anything else for that matter. I have friends who are attending the innauguration today as well as some of the balls. I am sooo jealous.
My beloved Tim loved polictical history. I started collecting presidential coin collection for him several years ago. We use to sit on the bed looking through the coins and reading about all the presidents. I wasn't sure about continuing the collection, but I do love it and I can pass it on to my nieces. I know he's watching the festivities and he's in my heart. But I do wish he was here with me.
It doesn't matter what polictical affliation you are. It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with the state of our union. This is a historical moment. I am so proud to be an American. I am so proud to call this country my home. I'm crying already. I can't imagine how I will feel in a few hours.
To all those whose serve our country in one form or another and their families. To all of you who volunteer and do things to make this world a better place. Thank you. I am humbled by your place on this great earth. Let us use this day as a new beginning. Anything is possible. Recovery is absolutely possible. Happiness is possible. Anything can happen. You just gotta believe. I do. This is an amazing country we live in.
Enjoy the day. Enjoy the moment. Godspeed Mr. President. Love and blessings to my great Alanon family here. You know what you mean to me.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
This message board is a bout hope. Hopefully your post will be taken in the spirit it was intended. If not, well.... *shrug*
I'm excited too. Hope has won and change has come. My wish is that every American will do their part in sharing the very heavy load this President will inherit with support and patience. Our energy crisis is paramount. Arctic sea ice is melting at an alarming rate. It is said if we don't do something that in our lifetime the largest carnivour on earth, the polar bear will be extinct. Everyone can help by doing something to make a difference. Even as little as turning off uneeded lights, recycle, carpool, turn down your furnace at night. Volenteer, become involved. It matters!! Change can only happen with our support and action.
Lastly.. You are invited by life to elect yourself a Spiritual
Leader, and to take office today. A spiritual leader does not say,
"Follow me." A spiritual leader says, "I'll go first."
Decide today to take the oath: I promise to "go first"
in demonstrating forgiveness, compassion, understanding,
generosity, kindness, cheerfulness, positivity, and love.
No matter where we stand politically or what ethnicity, we are brothers and sisters with a responsibility. We are the caretakers of this planet and all life that inhabits it.
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.
Karilynn and Christy, what incredible posts. Yes, I am very proud today, too. I had to work my butt off but I knew it was happening and feel so grateful for it. I worked so hard in the last election. So many people did!!
Thank you both for your posts of hope and pride. Hugs and love, J.
Politics is an outside issue. It is avoided because it is often divisive and it is not what Al-Anon is about. For example, it is not universally agreed that "hope has won."
Nor do we all necessarily hold the same beliefs about global warming--another outside issue.
When I go to a F2F meeting or visit a message board that purports to be Alanon, it is reasonable to expect that what I will find there, is Al-Anon. Al-Anon is about helping relatives and friends of Alcoholics. Period.
Yours in recovery,
SLS
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Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. The Bible, from Courage to Change, p.138
I fully agree it is a absolutely fabulous time in the history of the United States. Globally I believe this is a time of hope and inspiration. Good or bad is not the issue, politics is not the issue. The issue is freedom, and without it we would not be able to gather as groups, from various racial, ethic, gender, and ecomonic varibles, in many churches across this nation, and work in unity towards our spiritual developement.
The diease of alcoholism does not care what gender, race, nationality or political party a person is aligned with. But lets be completely honest about our own history....
There was a time when African Americans were NOT allowed in the doors of many of the homes, churches and other facilities that held meetings and catered to the suffering or recovering alcoholic community in this nation.
I am very proud of this nation, and of the recovering community that became inclusive, that work in the spirit of unity, understanding and compassion, and broke through those barriers that left so many outside our ranks that are truly a valuable asset to us today.
To those who would suggest this is an outside issue..... "BOoooo"
At the top of this message board it clearly states
"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.
This is simply a message board that is used by members of Al-Anon. It is not a Al-Anon meeting. If they wish to share recipes, celebrate the birth of a child, exchange medical remedies, ask questions about legal matters, etc, it can be done here and we should not be holding anyones shares hostage simply because they don't fit nicely inside a rigid meeting format. That is the same mentality we are seeing change in this nation. Thank God!
This is suppose to be a program of attraction, not promotion.
I found Karilynn's post to be very attractive, and the Al-Anon promotion post to be very unattractive.
With over 19 years of continuous recovery, I embrace this change. The change that allows the doors of life to open to all people, and leaves no one outside the arena of learning, growing, and healing the wounds left by ignorance.
John
-- Edited by John at 11:03, 2009-01-25
__________________
" And what did we gain? A new life, with purpose, meaning and constant progress, and all the contentment and fulfillment that comes from such growth."
Thank you for clarifying the exact nature of this message board. A number of posters, including myself, have asked for such clarification a number of times over the past few years, but those questions have gone unanswered. I appreciate your clarification.
Would you also clarify that the Al-Anon and Ala-teen meetings are also "recovery" meetings and not approved by WSO. I think that it is important that participants know what they can expect in the meetings (just as it is important to know what to expect from the message board). I have been particularly concerned about the recent posts seeking moderators for the Ala-Teen meetings. There are very strict WSO guidelines for those meetings that are intended to protect both the teens and the Program. If the meetings are in compliance, then I apologize and would appreciate your clarification.
I now understand that the MIP board is not Al-Anon, but recovery in general. I will assume then, that the mods will no longer delete threads or edit posts that reference non-CAL literature (e.g., the Bible and other religious writings). Additionally, I will no longer try to apply the Steps and the Traditions to the discussions on the message board and instead, I will confine those discussions to my own personal shares. Again, I appreciate your clarification.
However, there is something that I do not appriciate. I congratulate you on your many years of continuous recovery, but I do not appreciate what feels like someone trying to take my inventory, especially in public. It was unnecesary for you to "booo" me for raising what I believed to be a legitimate issue.
We are all equals in Al-Anon (that is my program, so I will stick with what I know). No one person is any better than anyone else and the ability to work a program well does not necessaryily depend on the number of years that a person has been in the Program. Some of the most profound shares that I have heard at meetings have come from newcomers.
So, I will take what I like and leave the rest.
Yours in Recovery,
SLS
__________________
Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. The Bible, from Courage to Change, p.138
Again, where is the attractiveness in any thing you are assuming, or proposing related to anything you are addressing? I'm not taking anyones inventory, I am merely reading what you are advertising, in public.
Many f2f groups are not WSO registered. They are still "meetings" that adhere to a meeting format. This board, I will state again is not a meeting and does not fall under the format of a meeting because it isn't one. What we hold in the room at scheduled times each day is Al-Anon meetings, which adhere to the standard format of meetings all over the world. So, where you get the assumptive idea that they are general recovery meetings, is squarely on you.
No where on our site to you see the words Alateen. Our support group for young people is called "Family Teens". So, what you are addressing regarding this issue is actually a non issue. If members of Alateen decide to join us they are welcome to, but their aliance with Alateen is not a requirement for membership.
Lastly, what will be deleted from this board or any of the MIP message boards is not determined by the material, but how it is presented. If it appears to be a promotion, it will most likely be deleted, if it is attractive, informative, and has a level of substance in it that can be of benefit to many, it will probably stay put.
I truly hope that one day creating or attempting to instigate drama, crisis, and turmoil in the lives of others, who come to us with pride, innocense, and for support can be given guidance that does not belittle, degrade or devalue their worth or the graditude for that which gives them a heart beat and a smile.
John
__________________
" And what did we gain? A new life, with purpose, meaning and constant progress, and all the contentment and fulfillment that comes from such growth."
Let us use this day as a new beginning. Anything is possible. Recovery is absolutely possible. Happiness is possible. Anything can happen. You just gotta believe. I do. This is an amazing country we live in.
