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.
The support we receive here is so important. I also get so much encouragement and so many reality checks in reading the posts of others. Last night I attended my first F2F Al-Anon meeting. It was a small gathering. There were 14 of us. It was nice and intimate. There was a variety of people there...some were children of A's. Some were parents of A's. Others had A spouses. I might go to another one this evening and see what I think before deciding to make this my home meeting. Thank you for encouraging me to go. I felt a bit more confident leaving the meeting last night, recognizing that I am important too.
What a Great Step... I Remember the Courage it took me to Walk thru the Doors of that First Meeting, and I Had Help for a Had Someone that Helped Drag me thru... I Remember walking in the Room and mine was a little Smaller then yours, but there was So Much Laughter, and Happiness, and I thought I was in the Wrong ROOM :) And When I Seen How Openly it was Shared with me, and How Accepted I was My Confidence Sored in Numbers at Each & Every returning Meeting from there...
My Small Town Only has (3) Meetings in my Area, sometimes you see some Folks at All of them and I Make 2 of them a Week, I haven't been to my Home (1st Group) in some time but I still Keep Contact with Alot from there was well... The Other two just fit my lifestyle and Time Schedule better :) So to Me ... They are ALL My HOME Group :)
So Grateful you are Here... And Ready to Change your Life for the Better... It will be a Wonderful Journey Like know other, but From my Experience (4yrs) I Can't think of One Regret Other then Wishing I would have Found them Sooner
I Am an ACOA, I Am a Co-dependant, I Am An Alcoholic (2+yrs Sober), I Am a Sibling to 3 other Alcholics, I Am a Step Mom to an Alcoholic, and the Wife of a Binge Drinker... And i have to say even with ALL of these's A's in my Life, I am Happier NOW than I have Ever been & its ALL because Of Al-Anon, My HP, And that I Listened and Kept Coming Back ;)
Wishing you Many Years in Recovery, But ONLY... One Glorious Day at a time ;) Glad your Here...
You don't have to rush into picking your home meeting, I kind of had 2 home meetings for over a year until I moved. The more meetings I made it to the more I could feel my growth. Coming here helps too and I am so glad you are diving in! Sending you love and support!
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Sending you love and support on your journey always! BreakingFree
Al-Anon/Alateen Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 800-344-2666
" Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional."
"Serenity is when your body and mind are in the same place."
Thank you Jozie and Breakingfree. I really did feel the warmth there. There was an evident love for one another and lots of hugs at the end of the meeting. When I left, I thought how wonderful it was that these people from various walks of life can come together and support one another. It was very special. I will take your advice Breakingfree, and check into some others before making a decision. Thank you.
Good for you, Annie!!! :) It's so emotional but in a good way.
I've been to two meetings so far. At my second meeting, I recognized one lady from the first and I was surprised that she recognized me too. She gave me a little wave from across the room and mouthed, "Glad you're here." Boy, that was a good feeling. Just that simple gesture alone sure helped me that day!
About the hugging -- actually SHE was the one who kind of gave the other newcomer and I "instruction" that you can hug if you want or not. She was funny when she said, "Look, I love ya but hugging a bunch of strangers? Eewwww!" Okay, we got it. :) So, whether you're a hugger or not, I think anything goes, so to speak.
I think they already accept us......no matter what kind of shape we're in when we walk through that door.
Thank you Jerry and Della. Della, I'm a hugger, so that's all good for me. I come from a family of huggers, and my AH is a huge hugger. He has the most healing hugs of all. Yes, I can imagine that wave from across the room meant so much!!!
I think its great to have found a meeting you can relate to. Remember some meetings change so it is a good opportunity to have the ability to mix and match.
Like you, I find this board a refuge and a homebase for so many of my issues.
