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.
Here I am. This is my 3rd Thanksgiving as a grateful member of Al-Anon and my 3rd Thanksgiving with all of you here at Miracles in Progress. I cannot believe it has been this long already. I also can't believe its only been that long...if you catch my drifting...
That first Thanksgiving, I was still married, though seperated. I remember being so scared. Not knowing what to expect. Afraid of how I would react to Thanksgiving, which has, since I became an adult, been my favorite holiday. I knew I was going to be sad, not having my wife and two step sons with me on that holiday. Or seeing my Father-in-law, whom I love very much.
I had been in alanon for 7 months on that first Thanksgiving, and MIP for 2 months. I didnt really think I would have much to be thankful for. And in truth, it was a hard holiday, as was Christmas that first year.
But the miracle for me then was this website. You all were there for me. We may not have been passing the gravey boat around the table for real, but we shared something much more important. The friendship. The togetherness. The love.
You saved my life.
You held me when I cried. You showed me how to hope again. You freed me from my own self created prison.
You made me laugh. I would tell you that you will never know how much that meant to me, to be able to laugh again....deep whole body shaking, tears of joy running down my face laughter....but you probably do know if you have been around in this program for a while, because you have laughed again too.
So this day, set aside for giving thanks, I want to say thanks to you all.
To John for building and maintaining this web site.... you will never know the true extent of the lives touched by the ripples created in this pond.
To those of you who were there when I first came in consumed with grief, crying so hard I could hardly read, let alone type.
To those of you who I have been blessed to have share my journey of recovery the last 2 years.
To those of you who were here, but have left us.
To those of you I have had the wonderful pleasure of actually meeting and sharing a real hug and some precious time together.
To those of you I have yet to meet.
To those who will come in the future.
........two simple words, which for so long were so damned hard for me to say.......
Thank You.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving all of you, my wonderful friends.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too David!!! Thanks for the many laughs over the almost 2 years i have been here. You are one of the people i relate to the closest in this room, thanks for being an inspiration or just a wise cracker with me..as the case may be. Hope you have a great thanksgiving...dont eat too much...i know i will...and root on the Cowboys!!!
For being a kind and compassionate man; honest with your feelings and deeply experienced in the program. Anytime someone new comes in and you are here, I know they are in such good hands, they are with such a welcoming heart. Just to have someone to say, "It hurts so bad" one can feel the love and compassion in this "room." I expected to find people who could offer tools and understanding; I was my first day, and still am blown away by the depth of pure, sweet empathy that comes every time I push open the door to say "hi roomies"
Its a spiritual site, we are spiritual beings, and you are a powerful soul. That's why it works so wonderfully.
Well what can I say, I don't see much of you in here, but when I do, Im glad to know you. I think you got something about you that attracts people to you. Your like a magnet(lol). I smile every time I see you comming into the room. (ayup) lol. You came Into the room on wednesday night and OMG It really was like,(Elvis is in the building) (lol). Everyone perked up right away. The room became so ALIVE, because one man had came In, In my book David thats special. You are a very special person. You bring alot of joy and happiness Into peoples lives. Into mine especially.
I get a lot of stick in the room because I ask newcomers If they are male or female,(lol). I am now known as a flirt(lol). I don't care(woohoo).
I like when the men in the room can give me some Inspiration, lets people see Al-Anon is NOT just about women. Not enough men I know, but our men in here are worth a million to us women.
So here's to you David,keep working your programme, you ARE worth it.
You are one of the sweet friends I met my first few days here in this chatroom. I suspect we have been friends for a much longer time than that though :o) I can't express my gratitude for powerful souls like yours in this room. Your honesty opens others to their own awarenesses. Thank you for being such a sweet source of light.
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