The material presented
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I've been sleeping with a wide open mind for the last few days and why? The ladies of Al-Anon thats why. I will always be beyond grateful to the program and to the ladies who were here and caught me wandering around the front doors looking for ????
As I've mentioned, if there was one thing I knew when I arrived it was drunk...booze in my family of orgin. My grandmother (a lady) introduced me to booze at the age of 9 while my mother (another lady) fought with her not to have that happen. My other aunts and uncles were boozers...not alcohol, alcoholics, alcoholism or such...I didn't know and didn't know that I didn't know about it. I used the word drunk(s) and quietly or else got my butt handed to me for being rude. Of course in time I learned the whole gammut about this disease which has brought us together including marriages, families, children and more.
The chemical almost ended my life as it did my relatives and then that unknown thing called a Power Greater than My Self entered the picture and change it all.
My HP brought armies of wahines, Ladies with him (or her) all of whom knew how to love me unconditionally and stay by my side until I learned how they did this thing called recovery. They taught me how to live thru rage and anger and to shut the hell up and stop yelling and swearing so I could understand when I was getting the program and walking it as they were doing.
Yes there were guys around and mostly guys who had brains which kinda sorta worked at times yet the wahines (ladies) used their hearts which I learned I also had and learned to worked better than my head...God was I S I C K God did the neighborhood know I was crazy and God did the courts and judges want me out of town which they arranged for a year.
The ladies hung on without pulling my ears which my mother attempted for years. They loved me and still do and taught me recovery philosopies that worked for them and I have survived.
Mahalo Al-Anon Wahines and one day at a time it is okay for you all to hang around in my thoughts, feeling, and memories keeping me smiling and grateful. ((((HUGS))))
-- Edited by JerryF on Wednesday 17th of March 2021 12:17:59 PM
I often read your shares and feel my island is 20 years behind yours. Do you know the children still whisper the drunk word here? If the little girls should forget to cross their knees in school pinafores, the rebuke is not kind or inspiring it is " when you sit like that, you look like a drunk". Like your mother i have tried to wipe knowledge of that existence from their lives. Of course I can't but still I try. Thanks for the share <3
(((A4l))) Memories...light the corners of my mind are words from a song I will never forget. The metaphoric language of my culture has deeply supported my recovery to where after one meeting sitting in meditation with my HP I heard it's voice say, "You know this" (meaning the language of recovery) and that caused me to relax alot which still leaves me re-assured of the blessings in recovery. I love to listen to this family in pictures.
Jerry, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, and for acknowledging where that wisdom sprung forth from! In your words I get a glimpse of your culture... both good and "bad." I am not fearful of things that are different than me... I love learning about them... coming to an understanding of them... learning from them!
I truly believe that humans were meant to be a matriarchal society... b/c it is in our nature to nurture. Someday we will evolve back to that model... and be the better for it!
It is not weakness to love, to nurture... in fact, it is the ultimate strength... the strength of a species!
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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
Love your truth, your share and ESH brother. Reminds me how grateful I am for all who came before me and the love, tenderness and grace provided to me when I was so in need of it! (((Hugs)))
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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
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