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.
In keeping with the notion of changing the things I can, I am going to choose to focus on the Traditions tonight. Circumstances today have reminded me to turn to these guidelines which the founders of Al-Anon created to ensure constructive interactions at the group level. There are great readings on the Traditions in the daily readers as well as How Al-Anon Works and Paths to Recovery.
The following Traditions remind us how to best help ourselves, who is in charge, why we are here, and what is at the root of our fellowship if we are functioning in a healthy way. I love the Traditions-- in my opinion, every type of group would function better if they were applied... Just posting them in case anyone else wants to join me.
Hugs,
Emmie
Tradition 1: Our common welfare should come first; personal progress for the greatest number depends upon unity.
Tradition 2: For our group purpose there is but one authority, a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
Tradition 5: Each Al-Anon family has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the 12 Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging and understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics.
Tradition 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.
Speaking of traditions....when I first came to this program I honestly found the traditions boring. When I'd be at a face to face meeting and they'd announce that tonights meeting would be about Tradition 4 or whatever, I'd think to myself *oh what a waste of my time I wish I hadn't even come tonight*
Then my sponsor pointed out to me how to apply the traditions personally and to my own family. Hmmm I had never looked at it like that before. I began to see the traditions in a whole new light. When I applied them to my household all of a sudden they weren't boring at all, but instead became a goal for me.
__________________
Kathy S --
~*I trust my Higher Power that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in my life today.*~
kathy "Then my sponsor pointed out to me how to apply the traditions personally and to my own family. "
WOW!!!!! i never thought of it that way but it is TRUE.........thank you for sharing this...boy, puts a diferent slant on them *borning traditions* huh???i felt the same way you did..."give me the steps....forget those dumb ole traditions" well i just learned a HUGE lesson from U , thank you for sharing this..........rosie
