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.
...that seems revolutionary and radical to me... after all aren't we supposed to work hard for others... ?
wouldn't being at peace with myself be selfish, self gratifying?
The old rip-cord idea... don't try to save others until you have pulled your own rip cord... [I changed that one a little... ]
The way I wrote that underlines how precarious my life used to be...
he good old serenity prayer was not just a button on the wall... I applied it to every area of my life... it went down through my thinking zone, into my heart and soul...
I went through the steps first, in my head... and then in the same light got them into my being... I needed healing badly... I needed direction , I needed boundaries...
latterly I noticed people struggling with the middle steps- and shuffling sponsors sometimes trying to get there... while in the USA last year I found people working on Step 12! It gave me a good idea what a Step 12 looked and felt like... some of the barriers were about expecting far too much perfection... and the answer was to see it demonstrated...
...maybe not there yet myself; but I have a much better idea of where it is... ,,, ...
Looking at acceptance, "My Higher Power provides the power, Alanon provides the path, and the people in the program provide the support."
These people can be found almost anywhere... it is a blessing...
Love this. Thanks David. Living at peace with me. Me. That is still ongoing work but I do see progress. I am trying to employ the serenity prayer to my heart. I want heart knowledge of it. Lots in my head. Working to install in the heart.
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
David Thanks for the topic. Living at peace with myself and others is such added gift of this program because when I entered the rooms, that was not what I was looking for. I was looking desperately for a quick fix for my pain of living with the disease. I stayed because of my commitment to my own growth. Leaning how to interact with others in healthy fashion, without making myself invisible and becoming a people pleaser was a great gift.
With the tools of program I was able to handle the most difficult of situations with peace, wisdom and courage as well as being able to treat others with courtesy and respect in the process . What a wonder.
.I can vouch for that I could never have imagined that I would have lived through the loss of a husband, a son, sister, and both parent and still feel whole and committed to life Thank you alanon
"Just for today I will have a program, I may not follow it exactly but I will have it"
Thank you for taking the time to post this thread, David, and for your share. I so appreciate it. One of the things I've really liked about being an Al-Anon member is that I'm only responsible for me and doing my part in the program. I'm one of many people who are responsible for themselves and doing their part in the program, too. I like just walking into an Al-Anon program room, listening to the opening, reciting the prayer, learning if it is a Step or Topic theme for the day and then just listening to others or sharing my own personal experience, strength and/or hope. Easy, simple, orderly with clear limits and boundaries that are spelled out at the beginning of the meeting and at the end of it with the Closing.
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,,, ...
...thanks for the share...