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.
In today's reading, the author reflects on the importance of reaching out to other Al-Anon members between meetings. Like many Al-Anon members, the author arrived with a heavy burden due to the impact of alcoholism. Reaching out to Al-Anon members who will listen patiently helps to release these burdens. Reaching out also allows us to get support from someone else. The person we are talking with might help us reason things out, offer an Al-Anon tool or idea that helps us gain perspective.
Today's reminder: It is my responsibility to solve my own problems with the help of the God of my understanding. Since God often speaks through other people, when I reach out and make an Al-Anon call, I become willing to receive that help.
Today's Quote: ?We cannot climb up a rope that is attached only to our own belt.? William Ernest Hocking
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When I first came to Al-Anon, I felt alone. I didn't trust easily, and sharing with others was difficult. Thanks to connections with people here at MIP and in my face-to-face meetings, I slowly began to open up and became willing to share my problems with others. And, while my Al-Anon friends don't solve my problems for me, I usually do hear ESH, slogans, and ideas that help me decide what I want to do about my problems. I know there is always someone I can reach out to and connect with. (Although, unlike the author of today's share, I don't use the phone to speak to people. I'm much more comfortable with writing posts or sending texts. I happen to live close to some of my Al-Anon friends, and I Also tend to bump into those friends at exactly the right times when one of us needs to talk.) Today, I understand the importance of a community, and the importance of knowing that I Can reach
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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, Skorpi! Thank you for your service and the Daily!
This is one area of my life where I find a sense of community to be so important. It is good for me to have an "outside" look at my troubles.
Hump Day...make it a good one, whatever that will look like today!
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"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
Good morning and happy Hump Day MIP!! Thank you Skorpi for your service and the daily. Thank you all for your ESH & shares. My FOO was really good at pretending all was 'perfect' thus I was raised to NOT share home issues outside of home. Had we been able to resolve/discuss home issues in the home, this would probably be a workable plan. However, we didn't have those tools so there were many, many unresolved issues that I brought (baggage) into adulthood.
The concept of total, brutal honesty and trusting/sharing with others for me was foreign and scary. Yet, I heard over and over again that our secrets keep us sick so I started small, and over time, I've gotten better at trusting and sharing. I am not too sure what it is within me that hesitates to reach out, yet I still do. I will sit her and process/think alone and then realize I can get another perspective....duh - I always feel a bit lighter when I talk things out with another.
I am all about quality vs. quantity. I have a tribe today that I would trust with my life. We are a small group yet we are aligned and in constant contact all day, every day. We add folks as needed and there's always an adjustment period while we get to know another, yet we are so willing to stay sane in recovery during this pandemic that we all make an effort.
Love and light all - it's a cloudy day here with some moisture outside -- too warm for snow so kind of misting/slight rain. I'm still hibernating and am good with that! Make it a great day...
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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 will be over on the coast next week roofing my garage. And tending to my two sheep.
I work two programmes and am getting very comfortable with the crossovers. Planning to have coffee-time or a meal over there one evening with a friend who is also in AA.
Having been in the USA two or three times I am always aware of the crossover between virtual reality and actual reality. And always trying to create some f2f contact, where possible.
To use big words online contacts can accentuate and accelerate recovery in my view. Gives us a much wider range of choices and contacts. A greater breadth of experience.
But I also hunger for f2f contact. Feet on the ground. Bums on seats.
Thinking of going back to my nearest F2F Alanon meeting tonight. Last time I went no-one showed up- but it was "the silly season".
I still have to do a step 10. [The table-top step] To check out if I am going for myself... for for some other imaginary people.
Doing this share's here is doing this for me. ...
I should have shared phone no's so I can text and get the buzz.
I am in a gender minority in Alanon and I hold back some times. Caution...
...and especially so with newer members. Mostly so I can create the right impression.
But- hey... inside of the rooms- here or f2f we do eventually create a climate of trust and respect. ...
...it is a part of our healing journey. ...
[I sneak a look back to the topic.]
Hey- still on-topic! Looks like I am going to have a good day!
I live out in the middle of nowhere. I already feel so alone and isolated already and adding this pandemic on top of it feels like too much to bear at times. I'm grateful for this place and I need it more than ever. I don't know any of you personally but I am really starting to feel a connection when I come here. Knowing that others truly understand is so helpful. Being able to share my thoughts and feelings and to read everyone else's too is a lifesaver for me. For real.
I look forward to the day when I can get to f2f meetings along with coming here, but for now this is keeping me going.
Hi Skorpi, Loved your sharing, as I do all of them when I take the time, and realize of just how much they help me in my daily walk in life. I, too feel isolated and lonely, as this online program is the only one that I can share and listen to. But guess what it is my fault, when I don't take the time to reach out, as the help is always there. It is however up to me if I want to do something about it.
I love Courage to Change, I love the title of the Book, as it does take Courage to Change. I also read Hope For Today, because I relate to being an Adult Grand Child of an Alcoholic, both of them cover what I need to learn, brings me hope and Serenity.
We talk about not feeling comfortable with sharing, trusting, well, I can remember early days in my recovery. I was feeling very, very angry at the then Alcoholic in my life, I wanted so much to talk to someone about it, but wasn't game. I held onto to it for ages and was driving me crazy, I felt so guilty feeling like I did, wanting to remove him from this earth. It got the better of me, and couldn't hold onto it any longer, and one day, just spat it out to a lovely, loving, older member. She just looked at me, and said to me," oh, darling, don't worry about that, we all think like that at one time". I never forgot it, and it helped me to start to unload my secrets, and to get better.
I have never forgotten my early days in Alanon, and for the many warm and loving people who helped put me back together. They were the start, and Foundation of my recovery. I could never, ever give back to Alanon for what it has given me. I will always be for ever Grateful.
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