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.
When we are dealing with an alcoholic, we certainly overlook and take for granted things that life offers for free. Making a list of what we are grateful for sometimes can enlighten a serious situation, and remove us for a short while from the insanity this disease creates. Just for Today can you sit back and enjoy a morning when the sun crests over the mountains, or walk through the forest listening to the birds chirping, or take a closer look at the flowers and plant life that surrounds you? Can you sit and play and truly enjoy your children or grandchildren? Go visit a friend or family member and get emersed into a conversation with them, without bringing up the topic of your A's in your life? I am grateful for a lot of things , however the negativity of this disease makes us forget, and our focus falls short of what is truly important. I am grateful I have a roof over my head, a cup of coffee , with milk as I sit in my pajama's as I type this. I am grateful for my healthy children, and that they have grown up to be wonderful adults, with fantastic children of their own. I am grateful that I have a job, it doesnt pay much but I make do. I am grateful that I am healthy and able to get out of bed and walk. I am grateful that I have this program called alanon , where people understand me, and I am not judged for what I have done or said in my past. There are so many things that money cannot buy that are free for us to enjoy, so dont overlook these marvelous things , and just for today take a closer look and find things that you are grateful for................
Gratitude lists are a wonderful tool--I try to remember to do one each day even if it is just in my head. I also try to make the list about me and not about how my SAH is doing!! So my list for today is....
(1) that my new knee is working and that I am largely without pain for the first time in more years than I can remember;
(2) that I have a wonderful home group with a circle of Al-Anon friends that I can call if I need them or if I just want to go to dinner before a meeting;
(3) that I have a job that I enjoy (most of the time) and that I find emotionally and spiritually rewarding;
(4) that I have a family that is, for the most part, in good health and is doing well on their own paths
and, ok, one that includes my SAH...
(5) that my SAH and I seem to be building a foundation of true friendship and genuine trust, possibly for the first time ever, which is a great feeling!!
Ok MIP folks, what are you grateful for?? Have a wonderful Monday!!
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Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. The Bible, from Courage to Change, p.138
By nature I am a list person so making any kind of list is right up my ally! This list in particular comes in handy in all sorts of situations: work, home, family. I love doing them when I'm having a hard day. It reminds me of what I really have. I have found the list doesn't have to be long. I'm not in a contest with other people after all. A quick list when things are rough, seem just enough to put me back in balance. Thanks for the reminder.
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
When I saw this I was like NO I don't wanna consider this or think abt this - I wanna be mad - I wanna worry - I wanna talk about it. BUT I need to do this, so I'm gonna! (Thanks for posting this topic up gardengal!)
I'm grateful for:
1. My new job.
2. Clothes, food, home, transportation for me & my family.
3. The unconditional love of my daughter and baby boy.
4. My mom & step-dad, who have shown me that I need not be ashamed of my situation, that they are here for me and will help me enforce my boundaries if I need them to and won't be enablers to AH.
5. My friends and my sister who has become my best friend this year and is currently in recovery/rehab. I am so thankful for and proud of her.
6. The rest of my siblings (age 10 & 5) - they make me smile and feel like I can still have fun like kids do once in awhile.
7. My friend's daughters - it's nice being able to be like a second mom to teenage girls - and at the same time it's preparing me for all the changes and questions and conversations to come with my girl.
8. And last, but definitely not least, AL-ANON & this forum!!!
A. apples(they make wonderful pie) B. bar-b-ques C. cuddles with my friends D. dancing (great stress reliever) and diversity (okay, so this one is a tie) E. elephants (all I could think of for e) F. family G. generosity H. honeybees (they have been working hard and I'm going to have lots of nice fat tomatoes) I. intuition J. jello (what could be more fun) K. kinder surprise eggs L. love (but of course) M. moonlight (am watching it from my window now) N. nonsense (every life needs a little, helps to lighten things up) O. oolong tea P. pixie dust of course Q. questions (nothing is learned without questioning) R. rest S. stamina T. tenacity U. underdogs (can't explain this one, I could have said underwear ) V. violets (they are such happy little flowers) W. womyn X. xylophones (it is such a riot to watch a little one bang away) Y. you all of course Z. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's (love my snooozes)
love ya all
lilms
-- Edited by lilms at 22:22, 2007-06-25
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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
)