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.
What if anything do you bring along with you on vacation? Im thinking the Courage to Change book is certainly small enough. But do I really want to get into anything "heavy" while on vacation or should I leave it all behind? What do you do?
I for sure always have with me my Just for Today bookmark or pamphlet, on vacation or even just in my purse with me as I go through my day. On a trip I definitely take at least one daily reader, and usually some of the smaller pamphlet-type literature as well, maybe Alcoholism the Family Disease or A Merry Go Round Called Denial... something like that. On an extended stay away from home for any reason(vacation, business, whatever) I usually also take one of the larger books-- Paths to Recovery or How Al-Anon Works.
If I am taking a trip, I have found that unless I take my recovery with me, the person that I become while I am away from it enjoys the time and the activities less. This program has become an integral part of my life, and I would no more consider leaving it behind when I go out of town than I would consider leaving my prescribed medications behind. I need the steps, the books, and this program to keep myself healthy, wherever I am. I enjoy my vacations more today, and I think it is because I accept that it is best for me never to take a vacation from recovery.
I take one of my daily readers with me every time I am going away. That is usually enough to keep the edge off when I am away. I have 2 sets of readers, one I keep at my trailer in NH and the other is for home and other travel. I also love to attend meeting when I am on vacation. New faces and perspectives.
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Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Love you all!
Karen
Hi Barbara! Yes, it does! I recently went to the UK for my sister's funeral, and took "Hope for Today" with me. As it happened, I didn't get a chance to read it because there were lots of family around, many of whom I hadn't seen in a long time--and there was so much love and support and healing amongst us all around the death of their mum that I felt very comforted and relieved. There IS a higher power at work in our family, and I felt lifted by it through the whole experience.
One nice thing that happened with the book: my niece Kathy, nearly fifty and having spent most of her life on the very edge with schizophrenia and drug addiction, now has 6 months clean and it working the program in NA! My son and I went with her to an NA meeting whilst there, and I gave her the book. (I'll get myself another copy!). It all felt right, because she has asked me to sponsor her.
I don't go away for more than a few days at a time, and I am not flying, so take that into consideration. I bring a notebook (journal), my ODAT, CTC or HFT daily reader, and sometimes my How al-anon works book. Just depends on my mood. In general, my daily reader and a journal is plenty. I can wake before the others and read a page on the deck if the weather permits, plus I have it handy if I need a boost for some reason during the day. Hope this helps.
Hugs
Aly
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If you keep on doing what you have always done, you will get what you've always gotten !
and a great way to start the day off!