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 attended my first Al-Anon meeting last night. I started out at the Newcomers meeting and then attended the Speakers Meeting.
At the newcomers, there were about 8 of us. Four of us were new. The other 4 shared a little of their experiences and what Al-Anon is all about. They shared the various literature that's available.
I'm a bit uneasy about diving into the CAL. Over the years, I've read a great many books that address the same principals as that taught in Al-Anon. I have one favorite book that I find helps me restore the peace when needed. I'm not certain that I need anything else. However, I feel I might place myself out of the loop and not know what is talked about at meetings if I don't read the material. I'm not overly concerned about this. I realize that in time, I will know what to do.
Thank you all for encouraging me to attend meetings. I intend to go to several different meetings in the area to find the group that feels right.
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You have to go through the darkness to truly know the light. Lama Surya Das
Resentment is like taking poison & waiting for the other person to die. Malachy McCourt
Gail this is just my opinion but there is nothing like Al-Anon literature to heal old wounds of living with alcoholism , if you buy nothing else please purchase our first daily reader it is called the odat - one day at a time . amazing little book and awsome for beginners ,Al-Anon lit came on the scene over 60 yrs ago so anything else on the market came second .. I was told to forget what i thought i knew about alcoholism and listen and learn . as our prog is not about the alcoholic it is about us and our recovery .. again just my opinion Louise
Hi (((Gail)))! I, too, am just beginning to attend al-anon meetings at the encouragement of the folks I've met here. I wasn't too impressed by my first meeting, but in hind-sight, I realize i may have been going in with unrealistic expectations. I was told to attend at least 6 meetings before deciding if it was right for me, and to attend as many different meetings as possible. Unfortunately, I live in a rural area and there is only 1 meeting a week in this vicinity. However, I also know that the dynamics of each meeting will be different depending on who is there and what is being discussed. And what I get out of it is going to depend a lot on MY frame of mind while I'm there. I, too, am a reader and find much comfort in the books I read as well as the support I get from my family, friends, and church group, not to mention my HP. Like you, I just don't know if I need the F2f meetings, but THIS time I am going to leave no stone unturned in discovering who I am and what I need, and, at least for now, that includes giving the meetings a shot. Keep us up-dated on your progress. Best of luck to you in your search for answers and guidance. I'll be sending positive thoughts our way!!
Denise
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"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time"
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"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
