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 wasn't sure how active this board is but would like some input and wasn't sure where else I should post this topic. I began attending Alanon meetings early this year and have had profound changes in my personal and work life through the program. I have a wonderful sponsor who has been in the program for 20 plus years. I've recently become aware that some alanon members who recommend reading AA's "Big Book" and bring them with them to meetings. Can someone explain this to me?
For me, the AA big book gave me a new perspective on my abf and his drinking/druging. It helps me see that it really isn't a moral choice, that it is a disease of the mind. It helped me see his side of the story. I did it for me, out of curiousity. There is also another book I want to read "Lois Remembers" and there is a movie too about Bill and Lois...I think its cool to see where it all started. And the big book has a lot of history of where AA began in it as well. There is a section in there called something like "for the wives" . You can read the AA big book on line if you google it, it comes up as a PDF file. The whole thing is there to read. I wish some of our alanon books were online like that. Take care! Welcome here :)
__________________
-youfoundme
Let go and let God...Let it be... let it begin with me...
I can"t comment on why the BB is not CAL but I can say that reading the BB has changed me. If I change "drinking problem" to "thinking problem" and "alcohol" to "other people" then the BB is all about me! The way I see it the only thing I don't have in common with an A is my solution is not alcohol and I don't have an allergy to alcohol. We both have the same "spiritual malady". I have many of the same character defects as my AH but I've used different coping mechanisms in my life. AA and Al-anon use the same 12 steps for recovery. Not only has the BB helped me understand my AH's disease but it has helped me understand MY dis-ease. Just my 2 cents! I look forward to hearing what others have to say on this topic! Thank you! ~Aimee
Aimee, I second that thought, that my disease is the same, I just obsess about people not substances. My thinking problem gets me in trouble ALOT! Take care
__________________
-youfoundme
Let go and let God...Let it be... let it begin with me...
I have been two two AA big book studies. We were in a room with about half AA and half Al-anon. It was the most enlightening experience I have had to date in regards to addiction. Both studies were four months long.
I would not bring the AA big book to a meeting unless I was at an open AA meeting.
I did find though that in doing the big book studies I was working an AA program and not my own anymore. I started to do poorly and had to get back to my own program.
I learned we both have a sickness of the mind. I needed that experience to allow me to be more compassionate and learn that the problem was a disease. I was in my own mind quite hard on the A disgusted that he was so weak that he couldn't just quit. I was much less judgemental and it aided in curing my self righteous attitude.
The traditions have the solutions regarding that and so that is the easiest way of bringing it up and providing solution and still the consequence will be about the membership either following personalities or principles. It happens here also from time to time using thoughts, opinions, statements and outside literature. A group inventory can heal the situation. We read the "Al-Anon spoken here" statement at the start of all of our meetings and it is concise and very contrasted as what we do. Group conscience works wonders too. For me too if the situation puts my serenity in jitters I practice powerlessness and then do only that which I have any control over. (((hugs)))
