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.
Was in the supermarket today. It is always a scene, as the one near us is also right in the middle of some heavy drinking bars. There's also a heavy bunch of heroin and methadone use in my area.
The scene: I hear a young girl 12 or 13, screaming her head off in the most angry, hateful way to her Mom across the entrie store. She'd been left to wait in line while Mom was off getting things. Her turn had come up, but Mom was not there.
Mom finally appeared, cooked out of her mind on something. SHe was doing the Alcoholic.addict dance: trying to cope, trying to smile at people as she wobbled, yelling out haphazardly picking up candy and asking her dauighter if she wanted some. Erratic, out of control, unmanageable. BUt I could see a woman in pain, in trouble. I could see behoind the swollen eyes and messed up hair, a woman who would do better if she had the tools and could choose to.
I saw the girl who was already a massive rageaholic codependent judging from what I saw (of course not taking inventory, just describing). She was confused, and looked up at me and others in line as she shrieked for her mom to come. SHe was also laiden with bags from their shopping, as MOm could not have carried anything - could barely walk. The little girl, you could plainly see, was torn over her Mom, and so in need of TLC.
That child was already well into the Adult CHild space/mose, and I just tried as hard as I could just to smile, without judgement or thought, just acceptance. I remember being embarased by active qualifiers/alcoholics/addicts in my life, and I tried my best to not leave another scar on her - or the Mom, who stumbled by, apologising. EVeryone just waited patiently for them to do whatever they were doing at the front of the store.
Today, I am grateful for a reminder of how lucky I am to have recovery, and to have compassion for both of these people. Of course my Al Anonic tendency to want to 'save' kicked in, but I am also grateful that I could recognise this and not act on it. But I could and can remember they have a higher power too, and I can communicate with mine and send good thoughts their way.
Just thought I'd share. They were not far from my own experiences, and I hope that one day, we'll all know the serenity of recovery.
-- Edited by alanonicScotland on Saturday 17th of July 2010 05:34:35 PM
Thank you for sharing AlanonicScotland. This week I was keenly aware that suffering is universal and does not discriminate. Empathy, compassion, and prayer go a long way!
