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 have been attending Alanon for over a year and am getting ready to start the steps with my sponsor next month. I wanted to say that this program works! I can't even explain it but it does. I read my literature every morning and evening. And the thing that has made a huge difference is I have been doing a gratitude list of 5 things I am thankful for every morning and evening. I used to journal about all my problems ect...and now that I only do a gratitude list I feel so HAPPY! I realize that for me when I was journaling about my problems - it was only making me feel bad and focus on the problems. The gratitude list makes me see all the beauty and good in my life.
Slogans like: take what you like and leave the rest, first things first, your opinion of me is none of my buisness, be kind to myself and be kind to others, how important is it, one day at a time............I take them with me wherever I go and in day to day life with everyone and it is helping so much.
I have also noticed that my relationships are changing. I have couple people who seem to want me to be my old self and one person asked me if I was numb because I didn't want to go into talking about a bunch of problems....in all actuallity - I have spent so much time focusing on problems in my past and now that I am in Alanon I just feel happy, I feel independant, stronger, and have more serenity. It is a great feeling. I almost feel guilty for being so happy lol. I still love my family of origin but my alanon family is a family of love and acceptance for me and I feel I can go to them with my challenges when they come up. I really don't want to go to my family because they aren't really "safe" to open up to. I want to just enjoy the good from them so that we can still have a relationship. I know that if we dive into problems then it will end up badly and I have also moved past the problems anyways. My family really hasn't but that is not my problem right? and I don't have to talk about anything I don't want to. Atleast I feel that I don't but I hope that is not being unkind to them. I just don't want to go there anymore with them.
I know I am rambeling but I just wanted to share how much this program works...it is a subtle change and I can't even explain it but it works and it is making me strong.
How have you noticed Alanon helping you? I'd love to know.
What a wonderful post, and really encouraging to me today....
Al-Anon has helped me in numerous ways, but the biggest ones are in the areas of personal happiness/contentment, examining my motives or parts in things, the openness to learn from others, and finally, and perhaps most importantly - humility.
This post helps remind us all - if we are stuck in a place where we are bitter, angry, and feeling hopeless - there IS a way to get better.....
Thanks
Tom
__________________
"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"
"What you think of me is none of my business"
"If you knew the answer to what you are worrying about, would it REALLY change anything?"
Thank you for the post! It is encouraging to hear. I've been in for about 8 months & I notice things too. I don't feel the need to relive old problems nearly the way I used to. I still slip every now again (read some of my past posts lol!) but for the most part day to day is much better for me as well.
