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.
Remember when I didn't go to the one and only meeting in my town because there were only 2 other people and it seemed repetetive and various other excuses?
Well there seem to always be at least 5 regulars now (I am becoming one of them) and a few other "blow-ins". And I love it! It doesn't feel like something awkward that I "should" do anymore, it's something I really look forward to. And I'm really grateful for it because none of the other towns in my region have an alanon meeting; the closest one is actually an hour by bus. This is a 10 minute walk from my house. Lucky or what?
Anyway I just thought I'd share that because if I hadn't read people insisting time and again here that f2f meetings were crucial, I wouldn't have given it another chance, and I would have missed out.
So glad you have decided to become a regular and that the meeting is growing. I love my meeting and since I moved have a new home meeting that has become family. For awhile I was a blow in, because change is hard for me, but if I do not make it there may not be very many people there either, especially in Winter which can and has turned off newcomers. It is a two way street for me so I can do service and keep myself in program. The face to face keep me growing and accountable to others which is a great thing. All the smiling loving faces helps me as well to know I am accepted right where I am at without judgment feels so great, to be understood when many others could not makes them so special to me. I am glad you shared this, because I feel it is a vital part of my recovery. 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."
I have to bounce on what you have shared, as my first meeting I arrived to the location, feeling nervous, but no one had showed up! The door was locked and not a soul, so as I circled the parking lot and left the church, I got tot he stop sign and turned right which took me past the location once more and there was a lone vehicle stopped outside the door, I quickly turned in and rolled down my window. I politely asked the lady, is there a meeting here? She said well looks as if no one showed up, maybe we should go, and I just looked at her and said, this is my first and I really need it to which she said, well then let's just have one! We had our 60 minutes of her giving me a newcomers meeting. Frankly, the host called her to cover in case someone showed up and well to this day, almost 75 days later, I have never seen her again, but I attended every meeting locally for the last 75 days. The smallest group was a mono a mono that I just described and the largest was about 30 on a Wednesday night.
I keep going back and make it a prioirty for me, they work. I am still very much a newbie, but led my first meeting yesterday, wow was that grand! F2F meetings are great, I have a sponsor, I am his first sponsee and well he just received his 13 year recognition. I am glad to have finally walked into my first meeting and as my mom had called me an enabler for 32 plus years, I now know what she meant all those years. I have not chosen a home group yet, they are all good and have their own personality if you will.
