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.
This day's reading is about a person who wants to reach out to a family member but is held back because of feeling shame. The writer feels that everyone in the family sees her only as her alcoholic father's daughter, and feels isolated. After some thought she decides to write a note and let's go of her expectations or projections about what might happen next.
This one resonates with me as I have been working on the difference between saying something that's on my mind, and saying something that's on my mind 100 times. These days, I feel confident if I know I have said something I believe in and for no ulterior motives but just to say what I mean and mean what I say (and not say it mean). I no longer have the need to repeat the same things over and over again.
The writer references our slogan "Keep it Simple". I was just having a conversation with a friend last night and we laughed at how we used to accept the big dramas being our 'normal'. I did used to enjoy a crisis! I'm learning to embrace the every day aspects of my life and all that I have to be grateful for rather than looking for the next big problem I might try and solve. The quote is about truly living in our present, and if we do we won't have the time to dwell on past or future. That is a good thought for me as this day is getting started.
Thanks for the post and the share! This disease is so cunning and baffling. I remember as I started to settle in to this program - I was at times uncertain what to do with the new 'time' I found once I stopped concerning myself with what others were doing. My HP helped me learn to fill that time with meditation, readings, meetings, and me time/things.
Keep it Simple is so helpful when my mind wants to race.
Make it a great day!
__________________
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
Hi Mary, Thanks for sharing today's meditation from "Hope for Today ".
" Keep it Simple" and "What Others Think of Me is None of My Business" are powerful everyday tools in my alanon tool box. I now know and truly accept that what I do, reflects on me and what my closest family member does reflects on them. I am powerless over others and when I live by placing principles above personalities I can hold my head high. I love how practicing these simple principles has restored my sanity and given me back my self esteem.
Today, I know I can handle crisis and peace with courage, serenity and wisdom.
The difference is that I am not restless or unsettled when I find my life in serenity and no longer jump around looking for an adrenaline high/fix.
I had an interesting experience with learning to focus on myself. I had a decision to either let myself get warped by the drama or focus on myself in the most literal way on my meeting, which ironically was centered on the Al-Anon 4th step manual Blueprints for Progress. I asked my higher power for help and was able to walk away from the window and the drama, go to another room, turn up the volume on the phone, and focus on the meeting and in turn, myself.
I was able to concentrate on what was going on in the meeting, but that was because I decided to implement Al-Anon tools. Prior to Al-Anon, I would have focused on the drama and called it 'getting to know my community' (!). Needless to say, I am grateful that Al-Anon has so many tools and resources. Seems like I need them all just to get myself out of my need to drama binge. Thanks everyone for posting and sharing your esh.
