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 was raised in a household that went to church 3 times a week. This wasn't just a 'go to church and listen to the sermon" type religion. This was a church that taught its members how to understand and then teach others what the bible message was. We had study aids, books and magazines with questions for each paragraph. Scriptures were listed to look up and discuss. It made a lot of sense and I could see that those who actually practiced the principles of what was learned and taught were happy.
As I got older and got to the dating and marriageable age, I began to lose sight of some of these things and became self-absorbed in finding happiness in other things, other people, other stuff. I began chasing happiness outside of myself. I made some bad choices, always searching for that elusive happy ever after. I focused on future things rather than what was present. And today, in looking back, I can see that so clearly now. I ended up in 4 different marriages, all with people who had some sort of addiction. Looking at possibilities rather than realities.
My start in Al-Anon helped me to reconnect with the person I was when I was much younger as I kept hearing the same principles being taught. And then as time passed, those lessons learned in my family household started to become even clearer. I read an article today. A line in it jumped out at me. It said, ""So the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection." And I began to think. Chasing after happiness in other stuff/people will never equal having happiness within myself. If I am always looking for other things to make life better instead of looking at what I have right now, right here, that is good, then I am missing out on life. I am allowing another precious day to pass me by. I need that human connection with myself first!!!
Have you ever noticed someone who is just so loving and kind and fun that everyone wants to be around them? That person who is always gentle and willing to listen without judgement, who is always delighted to see you and treats you like you are really important? That type of person just attracts others like flies to honey. I think that's the type of person I see as one who has had a spiritual awakening. That's who I want to be.
__________________
Let your light shine in the darkness. "I can't just bring my mind to meetings...I must also bring my heart."
"So the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection." And I began to think. Chasing after happiness in other stuff/people will never equal having happiness within myself. If I am always looking for other things to make life better instead of looking at what I have right now, right here, that is good, then I am missing out on life. I am allowing another precious day to pass me by. I need that human connection with myself first!!!
********************************************
WOW!!! this is what i am working on right now......happiness within me begins w/accepting me as is...no returns....and being "ok" in the right now phase of my life......reading your post, I relate to it a lot....thanks for this lovely share
__________________
Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
I went to church from choice, while my parents chose the bar... coming into Alanon I was spoiled a lot... experiencing a closeness, I sometimes found hard to find in church... but now there is a balance- where I can offer some things in church which come from me, derived from the programme...
...I believe I read the same article about 10 mins ago... it is doing the rounds pretty fast...
This is a beautiful share. Al anon was a source that helped pull together my fragmented and confused self, connecting me with my core and God. I am so very thankful.
Thank you for sharing, i loved reading this today. I also believe this to be a spiritual awakening and i think we must keep getting them with each step we take, im not sure. I had a spiritual awakening at my first meeting in alanon, right at the beginning of my journey. I got hope for the first time and i was on cloud nine for a long time. Ive stopped looking outwards as the source of my discomfort much more these days and i know happiness is within me and in this day, i just need to look.
It takes hard work to be the person you describe, i think thats the person we would all want to be. Alanon makes me believe its possible and its not just an unattainable dream. Its the steps that gets us there. Your post makes me want to get straight onto them and work them.
I agree with el-cee that your post is very touchng and I can see how Al-Non helps foster the teaching of empathy and caring through the Al-Anon principles. Al-Anon helped me to learn how to detach with love, lose the fear and become more spiritually free and open to others around me. I like that alot!!
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it
does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart". ~ unknown
Thank you, Kismet. Before Al-Anon, I was afraid to feel my feelings, let alone share them with anybody. When I could let go of wanting to be perfect to the degree I thought I needed to be that to protect myself, I made connections with others that turned me and my whole life around. The need to be perfect - the need to protect myself still surfaces from time to time. But, I have learned that I will only cut myself off from my HP and the beauty of the people around me if I don't enter into the space I am occupying and offer myself as I am - a human being in process. Loved the share. Loved the response. So appreciate your thread.
