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.
Hi MIP members, on reading this sharing, it talks about 'working a program", and what we have to do is to practice what we are learning,,,,, and being around people who speak and understand the language to be able to use it, and apply it to our lives.
For myself, I know that anyone can be my teacher, if I keep an open mind. I have been watching the Winter Olympics in China. Watching their courage, and their commitments and understand their sacrifices to do what they have to do, even to participate in all the events. Even seeing the closeness and fellowship that they all show to each other, if they win a medal or not. Seeing how they encourage and support each other outside their events. I admire all of them so much, and it caused me to use the comparison between their life journey and mine with Al-Anon. For me to 'work my program', I had to want to, to start with, I had to commit myself to want to get better, I had to sacrifice, I had to keep coming back, turning up, learning about the Disease of Alcoholism, allow people in my life, through Al-Anon, to become part of my life, and become my friends. Just like the Olympians need to, if they want to do what they want to do, compete with the Worlds best. They can't do it by themselves, they need a lot of support, from each other and Family, and everyone else to help them get where they want to go.
That is how I feel about my program and the many people, both in Al-Anon and AA who have helped me along the way ,I have come along way since my first meeting,, I know I have changed, I have become patient, a better person for myself, I know that I am giving myself the best possible way of becoming Healthier, because I have done and still doing what is expected of me. Practicing, reading the literature, listening to others. It has become a way of life for me, as I know it works. Al-Anon has saved my life, and I could never, ever give back to it for what it has given me, but I know I have tried. I can remember one of my Daughters, ask me not to talk Al-Anon to her, I thought to myself that I didn't know how to do that. What happened was that I use to say the same words but not use Al-Anon. I like the To-Day's Reminder for this sharing, it says,
"If I want to become skillful at applying the Al-Anon program to my life, I need to do more that go to an occasional meeting. I must make a commitment and practice, practice, practice."
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
This reading brought an experience I had recently to mind, observing my granddaughter. She received a brand new clarinet and I arranged for her to have her first official lesson. I didn't realize it, but afterwards, when she felt exhausted and frustrated, it came to me that she thought she would learn how to play after one lesson! It hadn't occurred to her that she would need to make a commitment to practice. And she didn't touch the clarinet then for several weeks. She's 11--she's learning about life, and she has no frustration tolerance which I think comes with her generation.
I know I have to practice, practice, and practice, anything I want to become good at. That includes alanon for sure, but the rewards are many. Grateful member.
Thank you Wendy for your service/ESH and all the shares. No matter the circumstance-good or bad- I find there's an app (Alanon tool, Program Principle) for that. Not only did Alanon save my life, it helped me value my life. Enjoy the rest of your day.
