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.
last night in f2f, someone shared about this article in the NY Times. she said that it read like the woman who wrote the article was in program
the key to the share was how the the wife responded to her husband telling her he didn't love her anymore. she said, "i don't buy it". it's a good story about detachment in a relationship and not letting yourself take the blame for other people's feelings.
it's something i'm struggling with today. AH told me this morning that he harbors a lot of resentment and anger toward me for "steering" him into marriage. when i reminded him how many times he told me he wanted to get married, he said, "i was drunk".
"every time?" i asked
"probably," he said.
i wish i had replied, "I'm not buying it." but i didn't. i yelled at him and i cried. the word DIVORCE echoed through my head over and over. just file for divorce today, screw this... i kept thinking.
i mean, we're already supposed to be separated (he still hasn't moved out... after 2x of asking). anyway, just wanted to share the article.
love in recovery, -xter
-- Edited by canadianguy on Thursday 6th of August 2009 03:12:17 PM
Aloha xter!! It is a good article and should have been shared after the meeting or before as it is not a piece of conference approved literature. It still is a good piece of work from a seemingly exceptionally open minded woman regarding acceptance and not reacting and holding herself responsible only to her side of the street. I forgot how I got directed to it and if I find it I'll repost the link here. (((hugs)))
Hmmm. Next time he starts that argument try this, "I didn't know I was that good. Can I steer you into painting the house too? Wow, this is good stuff!!"
Nobody can make anyone do anything they don't want to do.
Really though, I think the answer is just not to go to the fight next time he provokes. I just kinda like to have a little fun with it though. My husband pulls the "control" card on me sometimes and in our last discussion, I guess I was his pupeteer pulling the strings.
I LOVE IT! Because he's CERTAINLY been pinnochio before!!
Ok Ok...I'm a little sparky tonight. It's all in jest.
I wish I could read the article...but you need to register to the NY Post in order to do so.
My Ex Husband said those exact words to me too - after 5 1/2 years of marriage. Of course it was all my fault, he said - mainly because I 'don't understand him and his needs'.
Not being able to read the article (wish someone would post it somewhere, and if they do - let me know where...would love to read it)...I am sure I did not respond nor behave like this wife did. I learned many things when I came to Al-Anon - many that I wish I had learned before marriage...
Wait....I think I said that backwards - I wish I had come to Al-Anon when I first suspected Alcohol was a possible 'reason' for many of the things going on in our marriage....for I would have dealt with it all so much better than I did. I found Al-Anon when I just felt hopeless, lost, angry and confused about WHY he didn't love me and that he POSSIBLY COULD BE an alcoholic, but I was not sure. I am still confused as to why HE left ME (for another alcoholic and se x addict, mind you)....because what appears to be the 'norm' is: the NON-Drinker generally leaves the Alcoholic if anyone leaves at all. So even in this respect, I still feel a bit 'different than others in Al-Anon' and out of the 'normal loop' (if there is such a thing as normal, am still trying to learn that too!) ... sigh
I am still learning MY feelings and how to cope with them - over all this 'I love you, I love you not' and what I have been left with. The residual 'stuff' is as hard as actually dealing with the alcoholic relationship at times - but I am willing to continue learning - for my own serenity and recovery. Because... I AM WORTH IT!
So please...let me know if it ever gets posted anywhere and where! Just to curb my curiosity - 'cause KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! - um...isn't it?
-- Edited by lacewing on Saturday 8th of August 2009 12:28:22 AM
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...He compared his weathered hand to mine and said, ... GROWTH OF THE MIND AND HEART are the best offers you can give.my Grandfather (Keeper of Stories), to me