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.
So, so many people in the world have a bitter, cynical "life sucks, get used to it" attitude... when I was at the point in my life where I was at risk of succumbing to the same belief, my fellow Al-Anon members loaned me their strength, optimism, and hope until I got my own back.
For most of my life, privacy and confidentiality were unheard of luxuries and I didn't think I could trust anybody... now my sponsor and a few close Al-Anon friends know even my worst secrets -- they've never betrayed my trust or used them against me, and for the first time in my life I have started to feel safe connecting with people.
It is so easy to go through life on auto-pilot, never looking at what you do or why you do it... but this program has helped me to become more aware of my own destructive patterns and choose to lead a better life.
Fear is a powerful emotion that can lead you to choose "safe" options rather than taking the risk of going for the life you want... but Al-Anon has taught me that it's not possible to make sure nothing bad will ever happen to you/your loved ones, and that when bad things DO happen, they are seldom totally hopeless... so I may as well live my life with faith that when difficulties inevitably arise I will be able to handle them.
I'd say I'm a different person than I was when I first came to the program, but that's not true... I've always been in here, the program has just helped me crawl out from under the pile of junk that was smothering me...
I'm not perfect, nor is my life problem-free -- but the hope, trust, strength, and love I found in this program have made my life so much better in so many ways...words cannot describe how grateful I am for the changes this program has worked in my life!
(Special note to atheist newcomers: Yes, the program works for us too. I've been in program a little over a year and a half, and have had many wonderful changes in my life as a result, without ever "getting religion". My higher powers have been Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I find her inspiring), the collective wisdom of Al-Anon members as written in our literature and shared around tables, and the resourcefulness and adaptability of living things. It may take you a little while to find the right group(s) and work out how the program can work for you, but do keep coming back -- it's worth it!)
-- Edited by atheos on Saturday 27th of October 2012 09:20:50 AM
Totally awesome. Most of my actual meeting and program experience is AA, but I believe in Alanon and it's so cool to see it working in a similar fashion. It sounds like a spiritual awakening, then lots of hard work, then a new attitude of gratitude and faith in a higher power.
Congrats on the spiritual makeover :) Also, thanks for setting a great example and sharing the message here in this post.
Great inspiring message. I also hit a bottom when I arrived at the doors of al anon. THanks to the principles of this porgram I uncovered the "ME" i had hidden safe and sound in a small box within.
Atheos, I just have to say...I LOVE Buffy! I discovered the show about 10 years ago when I was pregnant with my second child. I re-watch the episodes all the time.
(((((Atheos)))))...for me...you are a God thing...Good Orderly Direction. You do the right thing and move in the right direction...Keep coming back...Mahalo
Thank you very much for this post Atheos. I look on this site from time to time and more often than not read of others struggles. It's so uplifting to read a share like yours. I too arrived in Al-Anon an atheist, initially I hung around because I was in SUCH a dark place there was nowhere left to go and the (what seemed like to my ears) constant mention of god & HP didn't sit at all well with me. But here I am almost a year later, recovering and I thank Al-Anon and my HP (yes even I found one) as well as the lovely people this fellowship gathers.
