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.
For me, keeping an open mind means not putting labels or judgments on experiences, people, places, things in my life.
Lately, I'm back to a place of what feels like perpetual petulance. I'm so restless at work and despite that I'm getting paid to solve people's problems, I find myself being aggravated by it all.
I have to keep an open mind about the experience and just be willing. Thanks for letting me share and anyone else's E,S&H on this slogan would be awesome.
Sounds like a little burn out.. maybe a little vacation? I have some time off coming up next week and the ex will be back on the couch and I'm VERY seriously thinking about taking myself a little well deserved weekend getaway somewhere fun all by my lonesome! I think it's his turn to have the responsibility for a minute!
For me, keeping an open mind didn't necessarily come naturally... I came to Al-Anon, pretty much full of myself - figuring that I could sort out everybody's problems, as well as my own.... My sponsor (bless his soul) used to sarcastically say to me "and how's that working out for you so far?" (as it was blatantly obvious that I was NOT in control, nor was my life manageable). I had to realize that this was one of my issues - the desire to CONTROL - not just my A, but also the world around me, including the others at my meetings.... I hated that.... I resisted that for as long as I could... but it was soooooooo true.
Soon after this improved awareness, I was able to honestly learn from each and every person in whatever meeting I was at.... One in particular, rings a bell... there was this one couple in our meeting - I hadn't given them much respect, as they didn't seem like the "type" of people I could relate to, etc.... Well, I was fighting incessantly with my A at the time, and couldn't get past it all.... when it was his time to share, he smiled softly and simply stated "there is no fight if I choose not to participate".... He then smiled, and seemed so at peace with himself...... wow, what an enlightening and humbling experience, and that simple event taught me that I can learn from each and every person/situation, IF I keep my mind open to doing so.....
Take care Tom
__________________
"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
In my early days of alanon face to face meetings, I used to judge people and often took a dislike to someone, after a while I wondered why I felt this way about certain people, after a while longer it was those very people that I found hard to warm too, that I really had the most in common with, and had the upmost respect for!
I just love this post...solving other peoples problems. The program even helped me here when I had management responsibility in a team. I learned how to participate with others when I was called for with, "Just for me, my experience has been..." Sometimes all it was was sharing my story without mentioning the disease. How cool it was and simple. (((((hugs)))))
