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.
The ODAT reading for February 6 speaks about the day when sobriety has entered the home. It suggests that life will not be perfect as we will have difficulties that arise . The reading suggests we must accept the usual upsets realizing that they come into shape now that they we are no longer focused on the drinking.and that we need to take disappointments as they come, always reminding ourselves of the blessing of sobriety. This should make them easier to take
We must remember that troubles are opportunities to grow. to make us better not bitter. We can learn from them not to repeat our own mistakes so that once freed from the problem of active alcoholism we are free to devote ourselves to solving all the other problems as they arise. Alanon tools work here as well
The quote is indeed very powerful "let me never forget to be grateful for the good things in my life and especially for the sobriety that will help restore our whole family to sanity and serenity.
Good morning, MIP! Betty, thank you for your service
I remember thinking that if my AW just stopped drinking, things would be so much easier. I equated her behavior to the disease, and ignored the possibility of any underlying factors. Those underlying factors sure did come into sharp view once the newness of sobriety wore off, and I was also able to see my own character flaws outside of the confines of dealing with an active alcoholic. I am thankful to AlAnon for my continued ability to work on those character flaws, and also thankful that sobriety has offered the opportunity for me to recognize them.
There is nothing like a half hour of shoveling in the morning to get the day started out on a good note! No snow in the forecast for today, though, so I'll have to wait until later this week for my next snow--shoveling-workout!
__________________
Skorpi
If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. - Lao Tzu
Good morning Betty and Skorpi! Happy Tuesday and thanks for your shares and ESH. Thank you Betty also for your service and the daily. I too had the idea in my mind that when the drinking/drugging stopped, all would be well with the world. I surely should have known better with previous exposure and experience with the disease - however, my mind is what it is and denial is huge...
I am grateful for all the tools we are given in Al-Anon. I am able to pause when 'life' happens and look at it with such a different lens. I love what Betty wrote and that's what I work to shift my thinking to - what can I learn from this? Way better than my old pattern of - why me, why us, blah-blah-blah. I vividly recall how my mind could take a 'life event' before recovery and turn it into a projected catastrophe that wasn't even real!
I too enjoy shoveling as well as digging in the dirt for clearing my mind Skorpi....we do have snow in our forecast for later today and I am tickled pink it's now down to a dusting/inch vs. the 4 inches they were discussing yesterday. Perhaps my HP is still teaching me lessons about projection as I was already planning for hibernation for the next 2-3 days due to all the snow that is now most likely not happening....
Make it a great day everyone! Stay serene, safe and warm!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
I erroneously thought if my A stopped drinking, our marriage would be healed and fine. WRONG!!!! And why hadn't all my attempts to fix her work??? And why had I become so absolutely miserable in every possible way? Well it was all her fault!!!
Alanon has the answers to all my questions. I believe I have exchanged bitter for better. I am so grateful for Alanon teaching me a different and healthier way to live my life, Lyne
