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.
Dear, dear sisters on this journey: I notice that you are often like pointers for me - "This is the way. Walk in it." Thank you for allowing your experiences, kindness, nurturance, wisdom and beauty shine through your posts. Amazing how this disease has nearly destroyed us at various times in our history with it - and yet here we all are - able to find the roses among the thorns together in this gift of a program called Al-Anon.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Saturday 24th of August 2013 08:10:24 PM
I just went outside again to the peace of the natural that exists beyond my garage door. I noticed a hummingbird flying close to a red, shiny butterfly birdfeeder that hangs empty on a shepherd's hook. It is the second time I've noticed one there. I realized they or it is attracted to the red color that it notices. Today's bird hovered for a few seconds and then flew away to wherever it wanted to go.
The sight of the hummingbird hovering at something that looked appealing but was really dry of the nectar it sought made me pause and reflect. How many times I have been drawn to something that looked appealing to me and thought I would draw nourishment from it only to learn that it was dry and offered nothing to me that would nurture or feed me? I've learned to see those dry yet appealing somethings in my life to be doors marked "not this way." When nothing on the outside of me is required nectar for my healthy existence, I have learned to enter into the well of peace and wisdom that can be found within me. It just takes me awhile sometimes to recognize what will truly be satisfying and nourishing on my journey. Al-Anon often provides me with the way to go to find that which I truly seek.
I agree, the answers and the peace are within. All I need to do is go there and not try to find myself in the outside world of people and things. Before working the Steps this was not so because I was filled with such anger, resentment and fear. When I went inward all I felt was that deep pain. Al anon helped me shed the old patterns and the former pain and gave me tools not to pick they up again.
a song comes to mind....."the grass is always greener in the other fellow's yard......................." well I was a constant "fence jumper" always looking for that greener grass, only to find pot holes, big enough to hide a small car in....
I was a persistent child and later adult...still looking for that greener grass........when I was a child, the landfill of los angeles would have been "greener" than what I was in, however as an adult, I had a choice and a mobility and freedom from that hell hole...
but I still looked for that greener grass, only to find pot holes, rocks and maybe even some refuse...
It took me alanon,acoa, coda to realize that I can make my own "green grass" with my thoughts, my actions and my healthier character......I can fertilize my lawn with the 12 steps and teh slogans and fellow shipping w/healthier people....I water that grass with my own self discovery and I am finding that I am in my body more, I am focused more, I have more time now b/c I am not obsessing and overdoing one thing to the exclusion of other things.......I am doing lots of things...balancing my time....paying more attention to my body, my totems (signs from creator) who are telling me something...
so now??? my yard isn't too bad....when I get more business, don't need that much more, but when I get it, I may join a health club or maybe find a person who wants to share expenses on their horse....who knows??? I am feeling better about being ME....
NICE share, (((G)))
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!