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 year I attended several f2f meetings (kicking and screaming) with a friend. After every meeting, I was annoyed that my friend had wasted my time and I was very angry that my day had been stolen from me. I couldn't understand why people would sit around in their own negativity and keep stirring up the past instead of getting on with their lives. I grew up with an alcoholic father and a mother who kept the peace. I've been dating an alcoholic guy for 4 years now and of course it's his problem not mine...or so I thought.
Recently my friend again took me to another meeting (kicking and screaming), but something clicked this time. Maybe it was the fact that I had recently lost all of my belongings several days earlier; I literally had only the clothes on my back and my car. And then my car broke down and I'm unable to fix it for several more weeks until next payday. So literally, I am stripped of all my worldly possessions and I can no longer hide from myself. I swear it was like looking in a mirror and seeing a reflection of myself as I sat around hearing the people sharing their stories at that meeting. I purchased the book "Hope for Today" and found this message board and feel such a heavy burden lifted. I can't even begin to explain the turn around I had that night but I am grateful to the people who keep this wonderful gift going.
I guess it takes losing it all to wake some people up to a much greater gift.
yep, isn't it magical how the things that happen to us make us sit and take notice, when we least expect it, just shows we never know when a miracle is about to happen! x
Aloha D...That experience is my own and has been at times described "hitting bottom"...our own personal "CRASH!!". When I had mine and had nothing left that was even worth hanging on to I was also magically led into the face to face rooms of Al-Anon. I'm glad you're here cause there is only one direction (hopefully) left to go in; UP. Keep coming back into the rooms of Al-Anon and to MIP...help us and yourself recover. Thanks for your share. (((((hugs)))))
I first approached alanon many years ago, didn't 'get' it, stopped going; I tried it again 5 years ago, my head still didn't embrace it.
Finally, finally, last year I found MIP and I am starting to understand and practice the alanon principles. (seems like a miracle in itself!) I think I was at the bottom in the sense that I cannot get the help I need anywhere else. My life is improving and I am so grateful.
Thank you for your post, I could relate and glad your here :) I found I was much like the alcholic in that I had to reach my bottom as well for things to change or wake up me, or find my willingness to even begin to look. We never know what anyones "bottom" looks like as it is different for everyone. I also found I was much like the addict growing up in dysfunction, only difference was I didnt drink...ugh...... Im glad that is changing also :) thanks again and welcome :)
Your share was very inspiring. The rooms and this program have kept me sane and given me the courage to live life with dignity and compassion. The road was not always easy but HP,the program and the members sustained me.
I too came in kicking in screaming cause surely i wasn't the one with the problem. My son is an addict and the only reason I came was cause I thought i could find a "fix" for him. Who knew I was just as sick if not sicker than he was... I found out quickly how to work the program in order to keep my sanity. Just like the alcholoics or addicts we too have to hit our own bottom and man I hit hard. I woke one morning took a few steps and literally fell to my knees and started praying, not only for my son but for myself. A few days later I was gently lead to alanon. We too had lost all our worldly possesions ( not becuse of our son ) and that has to be one of the most humbling feelings in the world. Everything we spent our life building was just gone. After working the program for a while I learned the phrase " how important is it?" And I thought back about losing everything and thought they are just things nothing could possibly be more important than our family and suddenly "things" were no longer important to me anymore. I am glad you decided to give us another try, I promise you won't be dissappointed Another saying i like is " When the student is ready the teacher will appear" Seems you are ready Blessings
It is truly an awesome gift that groups like this exist for such a diverse group of individuals who share a common theme. Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement and embracing me into this wonderful Al Anon Family. The compassion that is shown here-to a stranger at that-is a true testament to how the tools really do work. I will check out that book Maresie-thanks.
And thanks to Tricia, Xeno, hotrod, DreamXL, Bud, Jerry, Katy, and Bettina for welcoming me.
As above, Welcome :) Sorry I Missed this, I have been trying to catch up on all but as you will learn, there are TONS of us Here, and that is the Blessing for Sure ;)
For Me, Just knowing that someone FINALLY "Get's it" has truly helped me move forward in my life, and I am grateful everyday for the changes I have made...
I lost my Afather to this Disease almost 2 years ago now, and I didn't walk into the Walls of Al-Anon, till AFTER I lost him... When I 1st went, "Like you" it was a (kicking & Screamin) for me as well, because 1) I didn't understand or even "Hear" about al-anon, and 2) I thought My Alcoholic was dead, so Why go.......
Well turns out, His Sickness, His Disease, had spread throgh out my entire Family, and I am the only one that took this route in my life, & i had to push thru ALOT of Judgement from the rest of my family because NON of them Chose recovery over chaos and that is OK with me now, because "I" Understand what a blessing this program has brought to my life, I have made more friends/family then one could ever hope for, because HERE... I Am Excepted for Being ME, Not what I was Told I was...
Welcome to our little piece/Peace of the World... I truly hope you Keep Coming Back, and Can't wait to learn more/ Share More of your Journey with you... One Day at a Time You will see what a blessing this place is, and Praise HP that the Last Look at Al-anon, brought you to it ;) Glad your Here...
, when we least expect it, just shows we never know when a miracle is about to happen! x