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've noticed since being in the program that the woman who had no time to do ANYTHING, now finds herself lacking something to do and even bored and lonely at times. I stay active with my reading, and my postings and my meetings. I have emailed MIP and volunteered also-but haven't heard back from them. I would like to know what others do when they find themselves lonely and bored. I know what I USED to do when I got lonely-run out and date someone new and spill all my mess onto a new person-lol, but I want to do it different this time around. Looking for ways to combat the loneliness and boredom. Any ideas out there? Anyone volunteer for anything??? Just need to do some things for "me" and would feel good if it were giving back in some way or another. Thanks for sharing~ Keeping it simple... Shelly
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Put down the magnifying glass and pick up the mirror!
I am in the same postion as u trying to fill the space he once filled. I am using my time to love me. I go to as many F2F meetings as I can. I am joining the gym and building frienships with healthy people. I am rebuilding relationships with my family. Last week I did some service work putting up poster in my local community Alanon has helped me so much any free time I have I will put into this programm I have so much grtitude for what it has and is doing for me and my children
I recently found myself in a spot where I realized that I needed to do something that I could feel good about me for. So I got permission to redo the room where one of my f2f meetings is held. They even chipped in $200 to cover the costs. I jumped in with both feet and soon found out that I have a lot more friends in my 12 step family than I thought I had.
The room is in it's last stages of completion and it looks wonderful. It does me proud to see the smiles on people's faces when they were in there helping out. So this project not only helped me give back to a program that saved my life but it has allowed others to give back as well.
I have a huge trust in my HP and know that when I need him the most he will direct me in the ways I need to go. However, he can't do it all by himself, I do actually have to get up on my feet and move in order for him to send me where I need to be.
By the way I actually got more help out of the Alcoholics than I did from the Al-Anon members...go figure.
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Everything I have ever let go of has claw marks all over it.
Hi, Shelly I guess it depends on what your interests are. For me, I'm a bookworm. I volunteer at our local university library's rare book room/archives one afternoon a week. I also volunteer to take photographs of local cemeteries and specific headstones - through a website called findagrave.
I do a fair amount of sewing in the evenings - with the TV on. I get out of the house regularly, going to the genealogy library once a month when it stays open in the evenings. I spend at least one Saturday a month thrift-shopping for several hours... I come home exhausted and happy, even though I have only spent twenty or thirty bucks.
I bought an inexpensive webcam and visit with my grandchildren once a week, because they are in Massachusetts and I am in Texas.
I have lunch at least once a month with a girlfriend, picking a different one every month. I'm so grateful to know 10 or 12 women I can call friends. I bake cookies for my next-door neighbor who is 84 and widowed, take them to her and visit a while.
I take walks around the neighborhood. I collect Little Little Golden Books. and on and on and on.
None of these things involve my AHsober. I truly have developed a life of my own. I do miss having affection and quality time, but since I gave up living my life to please him, I'm happier in the long run.
I found myself with a lot of spare time after my husband got his job in Alaska. All of a sudden the house went dead quiet except for occasional glimpses of my 19 yr. old son. I dove in to remodeling my home room by room. When I didn't know how to do something I asked or researched. I've built quite the resume' and have conquered many projects. I am a carpentress..lol
Lately, I've been considering donating some time to a local animal rescue group. Maybe even becoming a foster Mom to a dog awaiting adoption. I mentioned this to my daughter and she said she's sure I'd become a hoarder..lol She knows me too well. Those sad eyes are hard to resist.
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.
I took the position of public information person in our district. Soon the new Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2009 comes in and another member and I are putting together a list of offices and establishments to go visit and even talk to. I've done public service for the other program also and have authored legislaltion with the intent of opening up the minds of some of our government leaders locally. The 12th step means alot to me since this program saved my life. When I am not doing that I have my "for the coin of the realm" work to do also.
