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.
Today's reader talks about the importance of service and how it brings them into contact with newcomers. The author shares that they can get caught up in the trivial problems of everyday life and lose perspective, but talking with newcomers brings them back to reality. When they set out literature, make coffee or chair a meeting, they become someone who a newcomer might think to approach.
The author shares that they remember the frustration of struggling with alcoholism by themselves - that they had the tools, but no-one to talk to. Al-Anon changed that and now, no matter how difficult things may seem, they have a fellowship and a way of life that helps them to cope. They are no longer alone. They remember how far they have come so they don't get lost in negativity over relatively unimportant matters. Service helps them remember.
Today's reminder - The Al-Anon programme was there for me when I needed it. I will do what I can to ensure it continues to thrive. I know that any service I offer will strengthen my own recovery.
"God did for me what I couldn't do for myself. He got me involved in service work. It saved my life, my family, my sanity." - In All Our Affairs
This reading really resonates with me at two levels. Firstly, by doing service myself, it really helps me to focus and see how far I have come in my own journey. When a newcomer shares, it helps me to remember that I myself was in a similar place and it encourages me to share my own ESH, which in turn may help someone else to deal with their own journey.
Secondly, I grow myself through doing service. A fellow Al-Anon member recently asked me if I would be their sponsor. My immediate thought was I don't know enough and I am still working on my own problems. But then after reflection, I realised my journey doesn't have an end and the fact that I am still learning myself is actually a strength and not a weakness. Also, I don't have to 'know' anything. As a sponsor, I am not an expert telling my sponsee what to do. My role is to listen, support and share my own ESH where it is appropriate. We have a sponsor - sponsee relationship which is equal and where we both learn and grow.
Through doing service I am helping others, but also helping myself.
Thanks BT for your service and ESH. In doing service here on MIP, and at my F2F/zoom, I am letting people see more of myself. At first I felt very timid about it, but since I accept that I cannot be perfect, and we are all here for the same thingovercoming the effects of alcoholism, Ive gotten more comfortable being me. I always hope that something I say/write helps at least one person to see themself better, but thats out of my control. The service I do allows me to feel part of these groups, and what others share is equally important. Im growing from the help of all the members. So thanks!
"Any service I offer will strengthen my own recovery" -- I agree with this 1000%. Al-Anon service is one of the great joys of my life at this time. I have met new people, given and received gratitude, gained self-confidence, and so much more. Even when there have been some rough times, including on MIP, I have learned from going through the experience and not going through it alone. I learned that even when I thought I had to do the service work "all by myself -- it wasn't true, there was help when I least expected it. Sometimes I had to reach out for help, and other times it just appeared.
Recently I took on a new service position in my area. There were some new things I had to learn how to do, and one day I was really shaken up with anxiety that I would make a mistake, and it would affect other members, and that my phone and email would start ringing off the hook with people complaining or needing help and I wouldn't know how to help them. Towards the end of that day, after I'd done a lot of work that I was still worried about, my phone rang. I could see that the number was from one of the top service people in our area. Nervously, I answered the phone.
Well -- it turned out that this service person was just making calls to all people in new service jobs to see how things were going and to offer encouragement. It was just the call I needed!! I shared with him how I was feeling, he listened, and all of a sudden I felt a lot better. And of course, the work I had done turned out OK and nobody got bent out of shape.
Miracles do happen in service.
Thank you, BT and Lyne, for your service.
-- Edited by Freetime on Saturday 2nd of October 2021 11:07:45 AM
