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.
It seems like a battle between good and bad im ny head sometimes. Light and dark. Im trying to choose the light, the positive thinking makes living better. Its hard to be negative after writing a gratitude list.
Today i am grateful for...
Fridays, im knackered and im glad of the weekend
The sky right now here, the light is fantastic at dawn and dusk, bright orange, beautiful.
Not living with active drinking right now, its helping me heal.
Thats it to start with. Im also going to try to be agreeable, look as well as i can, criticise not one bit and not Try to change anyone but me. Wow, its a tall order. Thanks for reading.x
Great topic, LC--- I have heard it said in Al-Anon that changed attitudes, aid recovery - I could not just change my attitudes magically, but working diligently with this program, I did notice my attitudes change, and today, by placing principles above personalities, I treat everybody with courtesy and respect, and will not surrender my serenity and deep felt peace for anyone or any cause.
Acknowledging the positive and letting go of the negative is what I think Al-Anon is all about. I know I was unable to do this when I first entered the program because I was filled with anger, resentment, self-pity and fear from the past and this clouded my attitude in the present. I was able to use gratitude and asset lists, as well as the slogans such as:" How important is it, Keep the focus on yourself, First things first, One day at a time," to not project, stay in the present, act and not react, to get me relatively peaceful in the moment, but my deep down, anxiety , fear and resentment kept me always going back to the negative.
Working step through four through nine with the sponsor, cleared up the wreckage of the past, and step three ,10 and 11 practice daily keeps me current in my positive attitudes.
My gratitude list for today is that:
I am healthy, I will warm home, plenty of food, a program of recovery, positive tools to live by and most importantly, I am going on a nine day cruise to the Bahamas on Monday to enjoy some SUN and beach.
Hot Rod Congrats on the cruise! Your a blessing here on this board and it's nice to hear your getting some special you time!
My gratitude list would be too long...
I'll start with the ability to deal with stress even when it is uncomfortable to do so.. to know it's temporary and to know the answers will come in time.
Again as always I'm grateful for the bad times of the past, that let me know the bad times of the present will pass!
I'll add the hot bath I'm about to take and a new day that I will look for the good things in.
For me, I accept that the positive and negative exist in me simultaneously; I do the best I can in each moment, to see the positive without shoving the negative within.
i am grateful for this very moment as I am sitting outside in the Florida sun
You people taking warm vacations are starting to affect my serenity lol!
I am grateful that
...it will warm up a little this weekend where I am.
...I can move enough to be able to start exercising again. Started swimming laps this week. The old me would have been discouraged because it's really hard, but I don't care that iI stop at the end of each lap, and don't care what other people think when they are doing lap after lap with no stopping.
...the sky here is nice too, Also grateful to live on a lake, where the evening sky is really nice.
...that this winter isn't nearly as bad as last one.
...I have friends remind me that gratitude lists are handy
Paula, I like that you are talking about positives and negatives existing in me simultaneously. So many people see the world, and other people, as completely polarized, and this is not true at all. We all have good and bad. The trick with others is, even if we see the good or bad side, remembering that they have that other side as well and are complete people. The trick with ourselves is remembering that we don't have to dwell on the negative or positive properties, just be aware of them and adjust as we go!
Thanks Elcee for sharing and inspiration :)
Today I'm grateful
for my
paycheck
escrow check
the roof at the shop isn't leaking
the sun is shining and all this snow is melting
Last day of the workweek
my serenity and inner peace
and great nights sleep and good work out before work
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I needed these behaviors in my past they helped me survive I'm finding new and better ways to not just survive but thrive
So glad you are getting a warm get away Hotrod you deserve it! Elcee upping my face to face al-anon time and getting with healthy friends always improves my mood and perspective. I think the extremely cold Winter days get to me, but I am still practicing self care to make myself feel better. 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."