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.
No day is like any other day. Isn't that interesting? And you never know what the next day will bring, and that's exciting. --Alpha English
Alpha has not lost her zest for life. Although nearly ninety, she nurtures a young mind and a wise heart. Her attitude influences those around her too, making them fortunate people indeed. We have the capacity to bring only joy to those around us, too, What's the key? Perspective.
The eyes with which we view our circumstances take charge of the day. What may look scary to someone else, such as giving a talk at the book club or playing bridge with a new partner, may actually excite us. Or the reverse may be true. The important lesson is, if others can look ahead with glad anticipation, so can we. They have not been endowed with any qualities that we can't acquire.
Most of us were too busy in our youth to pursue all the activities that interested us. Now is our time. We'll discover we have enough time to journey in any direction that calls to us if we have cultivated an eager attitude.
I am embarking on a special mission today. I pray to look upon the experiences with a glad heart If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back.
-Lois McMaster Bujold
The things we are afraid of seem to be like high mountains to climb. When we have gone through them they were in fact very small hills. Tricky mind.
Unknown
Such wonderful quotes in my email today, I couldn't decide....so I shared them all! When I came to al anon, actually alateen, the words that struck me, bolt of lightning, also made my blood run cold : "...changed attitudes can aid recovery." You have got to be kidding! I thought, Do you have any idea what life is like at my house? With my parents? And you're gonna tell me that attitude, my attitude, is the problem? There are variants on my dismay. "Why do I have to come here if they are the ones drinking?" "What good does this do me? I'm not the one getting busted every week by the cops." Some time during my journey through the steps, I can't tell you why it is I decided to keep coming back. Today, I commit myself to al anon not because I want to but because I need to. I'm a person of grandiose ideals and low self esteem; of perfectionist drive and merciless self nit picking; I'm a person who believes God needs my advise when it comes to running the universe, forgetting he did quite well a long time before I came around. Some how I'm thinking I'm supposed to say "And life is absolutely fantastic here today because of program!" No...no it isn't. Somehow I'm supposed to say how out and out greatful I am that program has intervined itself in all my affairs. And no, not really. In fact, gratitude is what I feel when I realize God is attending to the details I've forgotten because I'm too wrapped up and stressed in the everyday minutae of dealing with me. And some how, SOME HOW, I'm supposed to say how powerful I'm finding myself to be as long as God is in control. And no, not really. I'm finding I'm a work in progress, and I'm only realizing how truly infinite God is compared to my very real human-ness on my most desprate hours. Today, for my program, I work on expanding my prospective. I work on looking for the bigger picture, the more intensive details. I work on being honest with myself in all of my affairs. I work on "Being the change." And then, I do my absolute best to let go. I remind myself of the oldtimer Kay, who always has the coffemug her first sponsor bought her at her first al anon round up: "Every thing I turn over has claw marks on it!" And I remember: in progress. Progress, not perfection......
You sincerely touch me with your es&h. these quotes and sayings are great guidelines for me to live a more serene life...but of course not perfectly ;)
Thanks so much for sharing your quotes and your thoughts. They were really needed today... this is a wonderful program and yes, a wonderful day if we choose to look at it that way. I have been feeling a lot of fear today (of the future, of what my relationship may change into, etc. - and I was feeling pretty shaky.) Thanks for reminding me of a new outlook and gratitude and becoming more involved in life and the program!!!
