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.
As some of you know, I've begun to attend meetings and benefiting greatly.
Kinda weird last night - my sister, who is a recovering A for 30+ years, went with me. We've never, ever been close! This was the first thing we've ever done together - just the 2 of us.
The "Little Jewel I'm referring to is the Al-anon book One Day At a Time. I purchased it online and it just arrived a few days ago. I bought it used - in great condition. It was only 6.94 and that included tax!!
Great stuff! It reinforces what all my expensive self-help books have taught me.
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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
Oh yeah, my copy was gifted to me by my MIP angel. Sometimes I don't have time to read my other literature, but I always make time every day for this one. It truly IS a little jewel. Worth more than it's weight in gold! PS Glad to hear you and your sister shared some quality time together.
That's my favorite recovery book! I love how there's an index at the back and you can look up topics and find a little reading about it if there's something on your mind. I use it for topic readings when I chair meetings. :)
That is awesome about going with your sister to a meeting! Although I've offered to take my sister to a meeting and she actually seemed interested, I haven't followed up. I was honestly thinking that I wasn't sure I could share honestly with my sister in the meeting. We were never close, and I'm still kind of uncomfortable with her really. Sad - maybe taking her to meetings would be a good thing for both of us.
That's my favorite recovery book! I love how there's an index at the back and you can look up topics and find a little reading about it if there's something on your mind. I use it for topic readings when I chair meetings. :)
That is awesome about going with your sister to a meeting! Although I've offered to take my sister to a meeting and she actually seemed interested, I haven't followed up. I was honestly thinking that I wasn't sure I could share honestly with my sister in the meeting. We were never close, and I'm still kind of uncomfortable with her really. Sad - maybe taking her to meetings would be a good thing for both of us.
Re: going to a meeting with my sister
Hi WhiteRabbit,
I had mentioned to my sister that I was attending meetings, and she pretty much invited herself. What could I say?
I had and still do mixed feelings. I, too, was never close to her. There is a 4 year age difference; I had thought as we grew older we'd grow closer. But she has always been somewhat distant. Perhaps she is feeling more comfortable with me because I'm attending meetings. Not sure.
When we got to the meeting, someone asked my sister to chair the meeting, which I thought was odd. The person that asked her did not know her! I forgot to ask my sister if the woman asked her if she was a newcomer. Anyway, she did accept, but I could tell she felt uncomfortable, even though she has chaired many AA meetings over the years.
I'm striving to be open minded. who knows? This is what might bring us together.
By the way, I was married to an drinker. I didn't begin attending meetings because of my relationship with her. Funny, she was so aloof while we grew up, she seemed like a stranger. So I don't know how much her drinking effected me. I guess it robbed me of a sister. I'll keep you posted on how these meetings with "sis" go! Gail
I didn't share. I felt uncomfortable with her there. She didn't share either. After the meetings, she did comment that she enjoyed this particular group and that she will come again next week.
__________________
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
Nice share and makes me think I couldn't imagine even asking my brother to attend a meeting with me. He lives across the country also, but I wouldn't be able to bring it up to him. Good for you for being so open to your sister in the name of growth! And I too love to read the ODAT first thing in the morning and a few other Al-anon daily readers and end the day with a different Al-anon book, currently "Getting Them Sober" and I can't get enough of it, or "Codependent No More".
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God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
I still have mine from when I first got into Al-Anon and it now looks like I dug it up in an archological dig. Loose pages, brown around the edges, old phone numbers and names of past member...it is a jewel and of course the most important black letters on white background...It's all still there along with notes and figures and comments. Best book I've ever owned. ((((hugs))))
I forgot and left mine on top of my car as I was leaving a meeting one night. I went back the next day but it was not to be found. Fast forward one month I get a call at my business from a man who asks am I RLC. He then proceeds to tell me he found a book on the side of the road several weeks ago with my name a phone number. He told me he was sorry he had not called sooner but he had been reading it, and told me the book had really helped him. It turned out he owned a sign company and we ended up getting him to paint a new Al-Anon sign for our building. I got my old ODAAT book back......minus the front cover and pages 1 thru 48 that didn't make it to the side of the road late that night. He ended up attended several meeting but he didn't stick.
I've always wondered if the first 48 pages had not been missing from my ODAAT book.......................Ummm ?
No, as they say you get this program it when it's time for you to get it.
Hey RLC -maybe its time to send a new copy to a certain address......
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I am strong in the broken places. ~ Unknown
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another! ~ Anatole France
I forgot and left mine on top of my car as I was leaving a meeting one night. I went back the next day but it was not to be found. Fast forward one month I get a call at my business from a man who asks am I RLC. He then proceeds to tell me he found a book on the side of the road several weeks ago with my name a phone number. He told me he was sorry he had not called sooner but he had been reading it, and told me the book had really helped him. It turned out he owned a sign company and we ended up getting him to paint a new Al-Anon sign for our building. I got my old ODAAT book back......minus the front cover and pages 1 thru 48 that didn't make it to the side of the road late that night. He ended up attended several meeting but he didn't stick.
I've always wondered if the first 48 pages had not been missing from my ODAAT book.......................Ummm ?
No, as they say you get this program it when it's time for you to get it.
HUGS, RLC
Really enjoyed that story! Wonderful!
__________________
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
