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.
Before you read this, go to Yahoo! and look up "Former Klansman apologizes" I think that's the title, at least. Did you watch it? Man, that's powerful. I hear so many newcomers say how they feel the alcholic owes them amends. What struck me about the video is that, well, how many people do we know that committed horrible crimes; or, abused children or their spouses; things like that. These people, getting them to be responsible is nigh impossible. But it isn't our job to get them to see how they hurt us. It's our job to show them how we can live happy, joyous and free, with the pain, and, hopefully, without it. My father has never made amends to me for the atrocious wrongs committed against me. Nor my mother. But I have moved past their inability to be healthy enough to be responsible for themselves. Like the congressman, I took responsibility for my life, no matter what happened to me, and that meant I had choices. When we stop living as if we are owed things, and begin the work to live in love, we can move past the pain of the past. Leaving our lives in others people's hands is dysfunction. Living it is serenity.
Tiger, elegant beautiful post and so true- love your ESH! You are so right- we can change ourselves for ourselves and make our lives good and different. We can cut the long long chains of abuse and neglect Hugs, J.
Aloha Tiger...Thanks much for your share. Watching you grow and recover has been inspiring. I've been around enough to know when a miracle is sprouting and I had that same sense reading your early post and listening to your growth. Wow! Another lesson on faith, focus, persistence and daily practice. Your recovery is another one that my HP uses with me, "Seeeee Jerry F, It DOES work when you work it.
