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.
Reading through so many of these posts I see so much pain and hurt but also a lot of hope and insight. Words that are spoken here are so true, connect with people on so many levels and it's a great place to come to when needing to connect again with the steps and others walking a similar path.
I also hear so many blanket statements still about how horrible the alcoholic is, how they will never be this, that or the other. Some truth to that for some but for others there continues to be positives when recovery happens.
I see recovery every day in my personal life and in the work I do. I see families impacted by this disease and then the amazing work of many peoples higher power helping to rebuild and start a new beginning. I see the hurt from the past creeping up and yet those in recovery taking the steps and redefining a new norm.
many of us have been through the ringer- we need the community of support to empower us to continue to keep the focus on us.
I think so often the focus is on the negative, what got us to this point and yet it's so refreshing to hear those positive stories each of us working the steps and applying them to our life without dwelling on how horrible everything else is.
I hope Monday brings a fresh start to each of us here, reconnects us to our journey and puts our frame of reference back on us and in the positive.
Just for today :)
Great reminder Crau. It is also important to note that alanon suggests that we step out of denial, feel our feelings, share about them and in that way we validate ourselves, and our journey. In this manner, we are then encouraged to let go of the negative happenings of our life and make room for the positive responses available through alanon work . It is all a process and each one of us is at a different stage of recovery. Being able to identify with the process and not give advice, except in the use of program tools, helps greatly.
Living one day with gratitude and asset lists are all important tools that can be utilized in conjunction with feeling our feelings . Thanks for sharing the journey.
Crau - great post and what you describe is why I keep coming back. For me, the greatest gift of this program is the ability to be and do different than before which in my life/home has brought about a new normal. It's not perfect but perfect would be boring and I would stop learning. So, the program has gifted me with the tools to keep the focus on me and my recovery as well as to look at what is working in my life vs. what is not. I spent so much time before recovery focused on what was broken, not working or unfair before that being able to flip that thinking process upside down has been a game changer.
Just for today I am going to focus on all that is good and find gratitude for what is gifted to me from my HP!!
(((Hugs)))
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
