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.
During a discussion of how to handle a minor task at work, I disagreed with a co-worker and he started raising his voice and sounding angry with me... I spent the next half-hour in the bathroom crying. I *hate* that I'm so fragile stupid little things like this can set me off.
I was really glad I was meeting my sponsor this evening, but just got a text from her saying she needed to cancel. I called her to schedule a different time (in a week) -- I wanted to tell her about what happened at work, but she sounded busy and I didn't want to take up her time... part of me hoped she'd hear something in my voice, or ask how my day was or something... but it's really not fair to expect her to be able to read my mind, I should know to ask for help when I need it...
...at least I can get to a meeting and do *something* right this evening...
-- Edited by atheos on Thursday 15th of December 2011 09:41:00 PM
I am so sorry that you were unable to connect with your sponsor and glad that you came here to share.
I understand how painful that exchange was and glad you could recover in the ladies room. My sponsor always listened very carefully to me and would invariably point out that yes, that one uncomfortable incident happened in a day, however I was viewing the ENTIRE day as a horrible
She would ask me to list the positive
events in that day--starting with: I am alive, I have a Job, I am healthy, arrived at work on time etc. By the time I was finished I was able to see that the negative happening occupied a small section of the day and the rest of the day had many gifts of joy, beauty, friendship and love. I just had to learn to appreciate them and let the negative go.
I am glad you had a meeting and am glad that you are taking care of you.
What Hotrod said works wonders, .. I use that one on my kids as well. 5 min of bad doesn't earse the good of the day. We go through what we have to be grateful about and by the time I get them home they are already smiling again.
Your sponsor may not have been able to meet you that's the great thing about email and/or the phone, those are always an option so keep an open mind, everything doesn't have to happen face to face. If it can't be right this second, I know my sponsor will call me back when it's a good time and she's never indicated that it's an imposition in any way. That's why she said yes to sponsoring me, she's excited about my growth as well. :)
I'm so glad you are headed to a meeting, be easy on yourself and remember that you are valuable person always.
Hugs P :)
__________________
Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
The face to face meetings are and were gold for me along with my sponsor giving me a heads up and at those times when he could not be with me that it was mandatory that I find someone else to support me. (((hugs)))
I'm back from the meeting -- that was wonderful. I don't think I've ever been hugged that much before at a meeting! I like hugs...
This was my first meeting with that group, and they're already starting to feel like family (in a good way)... I think I'm going to ask my sponsor if we can change our check-ins to something other than Thursdays so I can keep going to this meeting!
It's funny how life just kind of works out that way, the unexpected seemingly big set backs are just an opportunity to see things in a different light! I'm sooo glad you found a meeting that really resinated with you and even though you felt down you found a meeting and followed through!! Way to keep going doing the best you can do!!
Hugs are the best ever!!!!
Hugs p :)
__________________
Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.- Maya Angelo
atheos: I just want to say that you did more than "somethin" right. YOU are totally on the right track. I used to go to meetings & feel worse. believe it or not. Now I spend a lot less time in the past & more time in TODAY--thanks to Alanon, I can see today for what it is & move on.
