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 C 2C reading for April 28 speaks about entering the rooms of Al-Anon and discovering a bright new world. of understanding and supportive people. The reading suggests that we can join this group by uncovering the "Courage" to be honest about our inner thoughts and inner feelings. We are often amazed to discover this inner courage which we do uncover once we felt safe enough to reveal how we interacted in he world . We do this by attending meetings getting a sponsor,. and using the tools such as the , the steps and slogans .
The reading goes on to say that we must guard against judging our defects but accept them and realize when we feel fear it is an indication we have a new lesson to learn .
Good Morning LU Love your new avatar. You are a beautiful woman. As to the C2C reading-, i was too nervous to look within and own my defects when I first arrived to meetings.-- I still needed to be perfect after all. Sitting and listening with an open mind to others , I too found the courage to be honest about my thoughts and feelings. How freeing that was!!!! Today I find that being honest is the only way to be Thanks for your service.
Thanks for your service, LU... This reminds me of HOW, honesty, openness, willingness... Yes, it takes courage to be honest to myself and others. Learning that ODAT... I notice my resistance to new views and ideas lately more than before, so this awareness hopefully leads to more openness for me. The last couple of days I have caught myself several times resisting, not accepting something, both within the program and elsewhere. This is a problem in me, because when I acknowledge my resistance and seek to understand (thanks for sharing about this tool to our sister here, it has been helpful to me) I am able to put aside my ego and look for what I can learn. It looks like each time I get to see something unflattering about myself, but its reality. May HP give me strength to continue on the path... My "natural" thinking is pretty much self-defeating. I hope everyone has a good weekend
Thank you Betty and Aline for your wonderful esh,
Ty Betty ,love your new avatar as well.
This is a great reminder for me to look within,knowing I'm not perfect ,I'm a work in progress.great awareness.
Ty Aline for the tool How,I'd forgotten all about that tool,much needed.....hugs lu
Good morning MIP - thank you LU for your service and the daily. Thank you all for your shares and ESH. I too love your new avatar LU - looking happy and very pretty!
I am grateful that when I finally found my courage and came to Al-Anon, others were waiting for me. They showed me how to keep coming back, continue opening my mind and heart and to explore the tools and solutions. While the journey has not been easy, it's been worth it.
Happy Saturday to one and all - off to golf in a bit - our first weekend of the year without rain, snow, cold - yippee!! Enjoy your day!
__________________
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
Dalbert Love your new avatar There is an Alanon booklet that is called:"Sponsorship whats ti all about " see if your group caries it. If not it can be ordered from the Alanon WSO web site. Sponsors are usually people that we hear speaking and can identify with. The person who want the sponsor usually does the asking.
Sometimes a group had a list of members who will be sponsors or who will accept t telephone calls but many do not . Take your time listen at meetings and see if you can feel the connection with another then ask. Good Luck
I'm glad you like my doggie. She was a puppy then, she's full grown now! An Australian Shepherd. Maizey-Blue is her name. And yes, she's black, not blue. : )
And Thank You for the response. My first meeting ended and I was given many pamphlets. One had several hand written mens names on it. I suppose this is what you meant by members who will receive phone calls.
I did reach out to one of the guys yesterday after I got lost on my way to a meeting. (talk about depressing...oh boy)
I read somewhere how men are supposed to sponsor other men and women for a woman. I have zero problem with that, in this day and age I actually agree 100% with it. The new friend I reached out to yesterday suggested several meeting in our area to attend....he said when he was new he wished there was someone there to guide him to the "best" meetings....his words, not mine.
When I went to my first meeting (walking into a 4th step meeting oops) I felt horrible. Not just for my at-home situation, but the fact I felt I was hijacking the meeting to be all about me. As a major introvert, it is/was really hard to make anything about me. I usually am a wallflower who likes to blend into the background and never be noticed. And there were people talking about issues they were having but I was grieving and feeling so sorry for myself, I hardly heard what they were saying. My new friend told me this was perfectly normal and not to even worry about it. But, being an introvert, I do worry about it, to the point of losing sleep over this and several other issues.
HI Dalbert Thanks for providing additional information about your beautiful dog. It is great that you reached out to a male member on the list sounds as if you listened and learned and that if he provided you with great information
Please remember that this is a fellowship of equals and suspending the format of a meeting to welcome a newcomer is no doubt a tradition of that meeting.
Dalbert - Love your puppy photo and would love to see a current one! How funny - my son and his family want to get an Australian Shepherd - just told me that yesterday. They found a reputable breeder who has pups available but timing is not good so they're in line for the next litter early next year....what a sweet picture!
I too am really glad you are reaching out. That really, really helped me when I was starting my recovery journey and I still do it today. It's so much easier to share a concern, crazy thought, chaotic event with another than to hold it inside and wonder what to do. Those I share with are trusted program friends who really offer ESH instead of advice and we've got a great group to bounce with beyond my sponsor.
Keep doing what you're doing - hope your 2nd meeting was awesome also! Keep coming back!
__________________
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
Sitting and listening with an open mind to others , I too found the courage to be honest about my thoughts and feelings. How freeing that was!!!! Today I find that being honest is the only way to be