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.
to see Gardengal's lighter post asking us to talk a bit of our favorite Christmas carols. I am sure her post brought a smile to quite a few faces, and we could use that. While I realize that the purpose of MIP is to help the loved ones of abusers deal with their lives, I think an occasional light post is refreshing and necessary, and helps with the recovery of all of us.
So I, for one, will be thinking of a post that can fill us with laughter and show us all there still is a light side of life. It won't be hard for me to do as my life is filled with joy and laughter. Anyone else want to give it a try? Don't worry hard core folks; I am not suggesting changing the tenor of the board. LOL!!
Best wishes, Diva
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
How about creating the warm fuzzies with a "Pay It Forward" thread? Simple, random acts of kindness. For example: Just before we had our ice storm I had thought I better go to the store and stock up before it got really bad out. It was frigid!! Just before we left the store I had bought my son and I a cup of hot chocolate. As we left there was a rednosed, shivering bell ringer outside collecting for the Salvation Army. I gave the lady my change and my hot chocolate. She was really grateful.
I had someone ahead of me pay my toll while traveling, it just made me feel really good knowing that people still care about strangers, I've been paying it forward in small ways ever since. .
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
well i will bite christy , i love the pay it forward idea and do it often . Thanks to this program ther are alot of oportunites to help others . Single moms I can slip a bag of groceries in thier car and they don't know where it comes from. I can buy a book for a newcommer and tell he r the first ones free.
My father brought us up with the idea of Something for nothing once a day. I had to rake the neighbours yard couldnt take anything for it . Help someone shovel the snow ,or carry groceries inthe house . every day he would insist we do something for nothing used to tick me off and as i grew older and away from home I forgot that lesson til i got into this prgram , so I can pick up a phone and see how someone is doing . I can talk to a newcommer when she calls it only takes a few min and costs me nothing.
I love it the first time a new commer laughs out loud , makes my day.
The whole concept didn't go over very well Christy....*sigh*...and here I am thinking I had such a good idea. LOL!!!
Yes, acts of random kindness are a part of my life as well. Not long ago I was in a restaurant and the lovely little waitress mentioned that she was struggling to pay her way through college. Her mom and dad had recently been killed in an auto crash, and she was totally alone. I confirmed this with her manager, then left her a $50 tip. My random acts are not usually that expensive, but they sure do make me feel good. "Better to give than to receive" and all that.
Diva
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
I love random acts of kindness. In my home they are so much a way of life that I don't really think of them anymore. We just do what we have always done. Maybe we are just wierd. Nope, not maybe, we are definitely wierd lol.
Life is much more enjoyable with a half full glass as opposed to a half empty one. (full of MILK, I mean MILK, lmao)
I thought there would have been many more replies to this post. When I get mired in the misery of alcoholism one of the easiest ways to get out of that funk is to focus on someone else, do something nice and be on my way.
thanks for the post Diva
Oh yeah, and I still want a hippopotaumus for Christmas
lilms
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Two things: 1. Recovery is a process, not an event.....and.... 2. You only get to go around once. Leave em laughing and make it worth your while
I have seen many acts of kindness the last few days. the first was a realtor/developer took one of his houses off the market and moved my mom and her zoo into the house for as long as they need to stay until her's is fixed. More people she has touched over the years and some she has not have shown up with everything you could need to furnish it. And people she does nto even know stopping to help in any way they can, it's amazing .... i know how much she has helped people in the past it's so beautiful to see it flow back in her time of need.
Thank you for posting this....as I was sooo wavering in whether to post such a question of this nature. This time of year it is the time of giving, and I thought if I can give even one person a good memory or make them smile it was worth the gamble. BUT to my surprise so many responded and you all made "me" smile! As for your suggestion Christy, I think it is a good one, and I have been doing that for years giving either myself as a volunteer to help in a woman's shelter or feeding the homeless on Christmas day or if you read my post in John's request for the men in the recovery center, by collecting money for the less fortunate. The bottom line for me is when I help someone else,,,,,I feel good! You know us alanoners, or me at least I am a people pleaser, wanting to help, fix,,,and if this is the way I have to do it, I will get my "need" to do so in this way. Best Wishes................gardengal
For me..the best acts of kindness are the anonymous ones. Especially when you know someone is in a low point in their life. When you do something kind it can restore their faith and assure them that someone does care. They don't have to know who :)
This all reminds me of a time when I was a single Mom and my two girls were in grade school. I always hoped I had instilled kindness and caring in them. My youngest one showed me I had one Thankgsgiving. We were pretty darn poor, sometimes eating cereal or macaroni for dinner. We did OK, just barely squeaking by. When my youngest daughter was in 2rd grade she won a turkey at school (she's 30 now, I guess turkeys aren't a prize anymore..lol). She came home from school and was all excited telling me about her prize. I assumed we had to go pick it up since she road the bus home. I was really happy thinking we could have a real Thanksgiving dinner. But then she went on to tell me that she gave it away and I'm thinking "are you nuts"?. Her next sentence was (verbatum) I gave it to Donald Mom, he's poor, he don't even gots a coat, just a sweater. Mind you, we lived in Michigan and it was cold. I was so proud of her. LOL..She didn't figure we were poor because she had a coat. She's continued in being kind all her life. This year it was her turn. She is now the single Mom of two. She got laid off a few months back, was court ordered to stay home with her son (he has issues) and does her best to make ends meet, it's a rough time for her trying to survive on 200.00 a week unemployment. Her rent and car payment alone well exceed her income.. Since she gets 200 a week, she can get no food stamps or help. This year, her daughter's school delivered a prelit Christmas tree w/ornaments, about 10 bags of food and paper products, and presents for her an the kids.
What goes around comes around :)
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
I'm in too! I made dog cookies for the Retriever Rescue that comes to wrap gifts. I bought an extra set of tickets for the person behind me. I paid for a perscription for an elderly woman who's on a fixed income. Remember that book: Practice Random Acts of Kindness? My Mom lived that saying. I try and do it all year long. It especially helps me to get out of the holidays blues and count my blessings.
Love and blessings to you. Give the animals an extra scratch for me!
Happy Hunnakah!
Live strong,
Karilynn, Hubby & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
lilms