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 author of today's page in Hope for Today used Step Two when visiting with family on a holiday. When the family's behavior made them uncomfortable, our author chose to go to another room and pray/meditate for serenity and guidance to keep focused on themselves and the present moment. This allowed them to enjoy the rest of the day with serenity.
Thought for the Day: Being with my family for all or part of a day can be a stressful undertaking. Fortunately, I don't have to be there alone. Conscious contact with my Higher Power is only a prayer away.
Quote from As We Understood: "I had started working the Second and Third Steps, not out of faith or belief, but because it worked for other people and maybe 'it' would work for me. And I believe 'it' did."
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I just love the Second Step -- I think it's my favorite -- "Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
I certainly wish I'd discovered program earlier than I did. It might have made my holidays a lot better. I remember holidays with family where I felt uncomfortable, and didn't have any tools, so I felt trapped and alone. Just reading about someone using the Al-Anon tools, and contact with a higher power, to manage a visit with family -- it makes me feel good and is a reminder that I have more possibilities for coping than I might have imagined.
I'm in a better place now, and no longer have to spend holidays with those specific people -- but I now know that I have a higher power that I can seek out whenever I need to be restored to sanity.
-- Edited by Freetime on Friday 24th of December 2021 10:41:55 AM
Thank you for your service FT, great page and great reminder...
Belief is a powerful component to recovery, and for me also it was initially determined and constructed, then finally felt. I am grateful that I gave it my full effort initially, priming the pump, so the benefits could flow freely later.
It truly is a blessing to have constant access to the perspective, strength and insight that comes from our belief and connection with our higher power...grateful for the wisdom of Alanon
__________________
Paul
"...when we try to control others, we lose the ability to manage our own lives." - Paths to Recovery
Thanks FT for your service and for above ESH. I have thought and said many times, I wish I had tried alanon many years ago. But I try to follow that thought with, better late than never. Most of my adult life would have been improved. This is due to program, so if I have 1 day left or 20 years, I'm grateful for what alanon has given me, and I will strive to do better with each and every day.
