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 read about a young girl who was 24 when she died from alcoholism, her mother made her story public here in the uk a couple of years ago. She had serious liver disease, a huge stomach, couldnt walk due to swollen legs, was bright yellow, yet, she still signed out of the hospital to go and drink. She done this numerous times in a few weeks until she finally went into a coma and died.
Her story got me thinking about my story and how im thankful I havent had to watch this happen to any of my children. There are parts of that womans story I related to. She couldnt live with her daughter after a while, she couldnt help her or save her. I know that pain but the progression like that is scary. Her daughter took this disease all the way to the end, quicker or earlier than anyone in the uk. She was 24, youngest ever recorded. That mother has lived through my nightmare to be honest.
It got me thinking of the stories ive read here and how I can relate up until a point, there are bits and pieces of other peoples stories that ive thankfully being spared. the alcoholics in my life have responded well to detachment but im aware that its not guaranteed. The disease is powerful and may up a gear at some point. Today, I have a lot to be thankful for and that story made me feel it.x
Thank you, el cee. I, too, have been spared from some of what our posters have shared. Although my son is still out there doing whatever he is doing, I know that his HP is there with him, too. Unconditional Love (which is my HP) comes with no guarantees other than one in my experience, the promise to be with me and with my loved ones no matter what shape we/they are in to strengthen, support, nurture and encourage us in our journey toward freedom/serenity/growth/and/or continued spiritual awakenings. We are always arriving and can't truly ever rest in "this is the end" because as nature shows us - nothing is ever truly lost or gone forever - it is only recycled into a different form. Like peeling an onion as we say in our recovery circles. Although my father's body endured a lot of breaking down, his spirit lives on in me and in others who let him come into their minds and hearts and live there. I can say he died or I can say his body died but he is free and available to me in a different way. I can also say that I was with him through the worst of his body's breakdown and saw the blessing of his true self shining through that tired body. For me, death truly isn't the end but the beginning of new ways of seeing/new spiritual awakenings.
Like you El-cee, I am thankful for what I've been spared.
Grateful wrote 'We are always arriving' Well I've never seen that before but I just adore it, what a beautiful way to describe life. Thank you, that one will stay with me.
I am thankful as well El-cee that I have not had to experience such a loss. Like you I have never heard of someone losing their life at such an early age to alcoholism.
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
Grateful, your reply here is powerful. Thank you, sometimes I forget they have a higher power, its comforting to me. Were always arriving. Love that, so true. That cycle that goes on and on is how I see my hp, its bigger than me, knows better so I need to let it.x
I don't want to minimize the effect that death does have on us - like winter with its barren, bleak, cold and dangerous conditions - but I know that for most of us spring always follows winter's harshness. We do experience new life that is pleasant and beautiful to behold again although the memory of winter lingers. (((elcee)))
LC Thanks for the topic Although, I lost my son to this disease, I know HP was there with him to the end . I was also allowed to be there with him, bring him a glass of cold water, say I love you and assure him that I was there if he needed me.
What a great gift to be given and I will always be grateful to HP . I must admit without program I would not have seen or appreciated this miracle-- I would have been too busy trying to force my will
