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 am spinning a bit and have been since early Sat morning when we discovered the back part of our home had flooded. After spending the weekend tearing up floors in 3 bedrooms and a hallway and hauling the debris for the trash collectors, we can rest a bit until the plumber comes back on Thursday to make his final diagnosis as to the cause of the flood. We think it is a service drain....since we live on a slab, this could be a major undertaking to fix. I am weary; emotionally and physically. Our home is in shambles, the animals are out of sorts and the uglies in me and my hubbie have peeked out from time to time. Yet, I can see the tools of our recovery programs firmly planted. When we were awakened at 5:15am on Sat by our daughter proclaiming "mom, we have a problem", after we stepped onto wet carpet and let out a few 4 letter words, we decided that the best thing we could do to pull ourselves together, was to have coffee and sit by the fire. This would not have happened without recovery. There would have been chaos, blame, finger pointing and me apologizing for all kinds of things that were not within my control. Although our stuff is everywhere and there is a wet concrete smell in the house we know "this too shall pass" and we can live by "first things first". We have laughed about some of the ways we have sniped at each other, then move onto the next task. I am doing the best I can to exercise good self care. I had already enrolled in an online 21 day meditation practice and am on day 2 of that practice and will continue, no matter what. I have to admit, though, I have been having cookies for breakfast Thanks for listening.
Oh Paula I am so very sorry I know that this is so unsettling Glad your alanon tools came out of the tool box and were used extensively.
My son had a similar situation(broken water pipe when he was away in rehab) and his home owner insurance jumped in with professional cleaners etc.Just maybe you can get some relief from them.
Holy Moly, WOW!!! Paula, what a powerful post....U R healthier then me, I woulda been screaming my head off, what do ya suppose it was??? I am on a slab, too, and for the longest time i was getting plumbing issues, but not under, just bad pipes or bathtub drains breaking...not 1 big BAD issue, but $100 here $200 there, seemed every month i would get a plumbing issue....i was ready to burn this place down, LOL
I sure hope this is an easy fix....omg...i can't imagine the mess and what a fantastic attitude you have.....me?? i gotta let the emotions out and out of the way b4 i can kick in and work program, lol...i guess that is just me, but ya know??? i do handle the unwanted awful surprises better, but no where NEAR as good as you are handling this.
I am humbled...you inspire me!!! really!!! to have something like this and to be as stoic about it as you are, making the best out of a bad situation, your amazing..........BIG DRY HUGS..........xoxox (gonna ask the plumbing fairies to make sure this is easy fix on the wallet)
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
I don't know what your usual time of arising might be there. 5:15 a.m. seemed to be the perfect time for you to discover the flood and turn the water off before even more water flooded the house. I'm so glad insurance will come into play here and that you are eating cookies as blessing on your good recovery work that helped you avoid all that could have happened and thankfully, didn't. (((Paula and company)))
I don't usually see Oprah's Super Soul Sunday program, because I forget about it. Sunday morning, while my husband was in church, I turned on the tv and watched the show. Oprah interviewed a woman who had lost her 3 girls, her mother and her father in a house fire. I was moved by this woman's resilience and perseverance to live in spite of her unbelievable loss and pain. Our flooding seemed minor after watching this show. When I begin to feel overwhelmed, angry, victimized, etc, over this I acknowledge /accept my feelings and bring to mind this beautiful, vulnerable, gracious woman sitting with Oprah sharing her story of strength, hope and love. We are healthy...the flood stuff can be fixed. I so appreciate having this forum to express these thoughts, thank you.
I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your home. Poor pets... no explaining to them. Funny how they become unsettled with these kind of changes, they depend so much for their well-being. I don't know if you had a good cry over all of this but I know I sure would have before being able to surrender it all to my higher power. Nice that you and your family could settle down together by the fire, reach a point of acceptance and go forward in unified way to resolve the issue.
Sounds like the meditation class could be very useful at a time like this. Prayers for you and your family.
Glad you're finding ways to stay calm through this and take care of yourself. ((((hugs)))))) TT
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Surround yourself with people and elements that support your destiny, not just your history.
Paula I am so sorry to hear about this. I can imagine if I woke up that early in the morning and step out of bed onto wet carpet, I'd be saying a whole bunch of four letter words. My house is on a concrete slab also, so I know how expensive and stressful this would be.
Your recovery program is strong and I'm glad you are able to use your Al-Anon tools in dealing with this.
Take care of you.
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Look for the rainbow after the storm, and I'm sending you a double dose of HOPE. H-hold O-on P-pain E-ends
At times like these I appreciate and am sooooo grateful or the first part of the first step cause after the admission of powerlessness the opportunities for unmanageable become less and less while acknowledging the program we have been gifted with. I Didn't cause it. I cannot control it and will not be able to cure it. I can ask for help and use patience in the process and I can lean up against my Higher Power and ask..."So what do you think about this and do you see something I can do in the mean time.
You all done good PP and that earns a YAY!! ((((hugs))))
What an inspiration you are Paula, thank you for sharing this story, I am sorry that you've had this flooding, but I must admit that I really admire the way that you are stepping through it. Thank you.
Betty, Rose, Catherine, Cloudyskies, Jerry, TT and Milkwood, I am touched by your responses and grateful. Posting and reading responses helps to keep me grounded and sane. There was a time when I minimized the importance of community; al anon has helped me to see that community is essential for my well being and happiness, when it is healthy. I can see where I only knew unhealthy, so healthy was an unknown for the most part. I kept to myself...giving out and not receiving. Al anon and this forum is teaching me to give and receive...that works best.
Thank you, Paula, for such a candid and open share on your inner workings and outer actions. I understand so deeply what it costs to put one's self "out there" when once met by unhealthy reactions. It makes me smile to see you trustingly sharing with this family and receiving what feels right and good to you and for you. You are a woman of honor and integrity who gives so much. I love seeing you receive, too. (((P)))
Betty, Rose, Catherine, Cloudyskies, Jerry, TT and Milkwood, I am touched by your responses and grateful. Posting and reading responses helps to keep me grounded and sane. There was a time when I minimized the importance of community; al anon has helped me to see that community is essential for my well being and happiness, when it is healthy. I can see where I only knew unhealthy, so healthy was an unknown for the most part. I kept to myself...giving out and not receiving. Al anon and this forum is teaching me to give and receive...that works best.
hey my good friend...you give so much and now its your turn to receive and really..i wish i was there to give you a comfort hug......you are such a wonderful example of honor and bravery under fire....this is a BIG thing that happend and i am soo unbelievably amazed at how you are dealing with it......this is program at its best....this thread is good for the newbies to see, that we CAN change our attitudes, emotions, actions and then character.....you trusted us with your feelings...and that is big to me....and oh yea, community is so so important for my happiness and mental health as well...just knowing that people CARE adn they can IDENTIFY with me, is a big thing....in the past i was attacked for being vulnerable, humble, etc., the FOO took it as weakness and attacked me....now i am coming back...i am getting pieces of me back, piece by piece that they took away....and i won't lose it again b/c i am stickin w/alanon et al, 12 steps and not gonna leave...to leave a loving community is to abandon me....aint gonna happen......i love your honest, open, no BS shares...U R the real deal, I feel safe with that...i only knew unhealthy as well, now i am learning a new, better way to live........and the "give and receive" is only right....we give...we receive....i get on here and i try to esh/help others...there will be my times when I need comfort/support...I know my alanon buddies will step up when i need them....that is a good feeling..........sending you hugs of support...
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
Dear Paula Thanks for the reminder that being able to" receive" is a true gift of this program.
I sat in meetings for over a year without sharing because I did not know how to ask for help and actually receive it. Just sitting there helped me to feel safe enough and trust enough to finally ask for help. I too am glad you are here and so admire your program
Thanks for listening.
Catherine.